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

Cornyn's Defeat and the Remaking of the GOP

The results in Texas practically flew in on Tuesday night. As soon as polls closed, the Associated Press called a decisive victory for state Attorney General Ken Paxton, presumably ending Sen. John Cornyn's 35-year political career. The 30-point m…

To repair ties with India, Rubio leans into pageantry

The top U.S. diplomat visited the world’s largest democracy in a bid to reverse soured relations over Trump’s tariff agenda and embrace of Pakistan.

Clarence Thomas puts Dems on clock as Alabama GOP emergency map bid stalled

Justice Clarence Thomas orders left-wing voting rights activists in Alabama to defend a congressional districting map that helped Democrats flip a deep-red House seat in 2024.

Trump is liberating his Republican critics in Congress

President Donald Trump, by endorsing challengers of Republican incumbents, is creating lame-duck senators who owe him nothing.

GOP lawmakers urge Treasury to press ahead with probe of Hasan Piker over Cuba trip

U.S. lawmakers push for a full investigation of influencer Hasan Piker over his Cuba trip as a Jewish advocacy group alleges FARA violations.

EV Pixie Dust Effect: Ferrari Unaware of Woke Jaguar Commercial

Kamala Harris and the Burden of What Has Been

Why some Republicans are worried about Ken Paxton as a Senate nominee

Few politicians have garnered as much scandal in Texas as Paxton, but he has ignited the MAGA base, who see him as a fighter.

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…

Horseshoe Jacobins

Livestreamer Nick Fuentes recently spent a segment of his show warning his audience about me. At some level, I'm hesitant to even acknowledge it or him, but it can make for a useful opportunity to explain a few things about broken cultures and way…

Final Thoughts on the Texas Senate: I Don’t Have to Like Either Paxton or Talarico

The fact that Paxton is an obvious sinner does not make Talarico a saint.

The Rise of the Sensitivity Reader

Adam Szetela's That Book Is Dangerous! examines the emergence of a new job in publishing-secondary readers who comb through books for possible offenses.

The Trump Who Cried Iran Deal

People have tuned out Trump's promises of a deal. That is starting a cascade of consequences.

After stern words from Trump, U.S. and Iran trade strikes

The renewed violence came after the president said Iran was wrong if it thought he would feel pressure to make concessions and resolve the standoff before U.S. midterm elections later this year.

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.

Texas Republicans Roll the Dice with Paxton

Expect attention to shift to the Lone Star State, as legacy media and activists converge on the new and unexpected center of the American political universe.

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.

Armageddon Approaches for Many Colleges

With falling enrollments, most schools will be compelled to seriously reduce costs or go out of business. Lots of them have already failed that test.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Jill Biden’s Reaction to Biden’s 2024 Debate: ‘He’s Having a Stroke’

“I had never, ever seen Joe like that,” the former first lady told CBS News. “Before or since.”

Socialism and Social Trust

Kingdom Come

A new book about Stephen King’s early novels will only appeal to hardcore fans, but its very existence is a reminder of its subject’s incalculable cultural impact.

Conservatives erupt after DNC lashes out at top White House official with vulgar personal attack

The official DNC X account drew backlash for posting a profanity-laden response to Trump policy advisor Stephen Miller on social media Wednesday.

Massie Visits Greene in Costa Rica for Fishing and ‘Spicy’ Political Talks

The two Republican critics of President Trump — Thomas Massie, who lost his House primary last week, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned from Congress — met up in the tropics.

The Case for JD Vance to Run

Vance is better off securing the Republican mantle while it’s available to him.

James Talarico Opens Texas Senate Campaign Against Ken Paxton With Houston Rally

Personal attacks and a packed campaign rally set the tone for what is likely to be a rancorous contest in Texas for U.S. Senate between James Talarico and Ken Paxton.

Dems in Maine's Trump-friendly district back Platner despite party backlash

Maine Democrats vying for Jared Golden's House seat lined up behind Graham Platner, exposing a rift with centrists who rebuked his Senate candidacy.

A 'Jackie Robinson Moment,' But Not How Jeffries Thinks

"It's a Jackie Robinson moment." That declaration by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries struck a curious chord because Jeffries was calling for Black athletes to boycott SEC conference teams to protest not the existence but the elimination of r…

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.

U.S. Strikes Military Sites in Iran for Second Time in 3 Days

As a potential cease-fire hangs in the balance, an official said the strikes were in self-defense, with targets including four one-way attack drones launched by Iran.

The Mideast Is Baffled by Trump’s Call to Expand Abraham Accords

The president said more countries should be required to recognize Israel as part of a deal to end the war with Iran. Analysts say the chances of that happening are close to zero.

If James Talarico Wins, I Am Moving to Canada!

From Babylon to Eurovision

My nephew's schoolmate sang at Eurovision last week. Here is what the people who booed him don't understand.

Talarico makes stunning claim about why he thinks Texas elections aren't 'free and fair'

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico is claming state election laws amount to voter suppression, vowing to out-organize GOP rival Ken Paxton in 2026.

‘Up for Grabs’: Can Democrats Sway Young Men Who Have Soured on Trump?

Many Gen Z men who voted for the president are dismayed by his time in office. But they are not hearing an appealing pitch from Democrats, either: “Both parties kind of get it wrong.”

Claire's Weekly Letter: From the Medieval Road to the English Countryside

Taking a break from geopolitics and crime, our feature articles this week have a lighter focus. We have a medieval travel guide from Benny Morris, a review...

CNN Political Briefing

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

Cornyn’s Defeat in Texas Runoff Underscores Trump's Grip on the G.O.P.

Senator John Cornyn lost to his MAGA-aligned challenger, Ken Paxton, by 28 percentage points. It was a historically poor showing.

Trump's Immigration Cruelty Truly Knows No Bounds!

DOJ Launches Investigation of E. Jean Carroll

Never Neverland

The new Michael Jackson biopic and the campaign to whitewash the King of Pop’s reputation.

Can Talarico Flip Texas, or Are Democrats Just Dreaming?

For people of a certain vintage, or students of history, the idea of Texas being an absolute wasteland for Democrats seems a bit strange.

An Anti-Communist Film Festival William F. Buckley Would Heartily Embrace

The festival aims to expose the evils of socialism that Hollywood has long ignored.

Why Have Young Americans Cooled on College Degrees?

Not having a degree is no longer a stigma, and learning outside the classroom now works.

E. Jean Carroll May Be in Real Trouble

Letters to the Editor

May 23 2026

Homeric Heresies

Outrage over a black Helen of Troy misunderstands the long Western tradition of radically reinventing classical myths.

Neuter the Shooters: What the Media Can Do To Save Lives

When Alex Teves' friends and parents attended his memorial service 15 years ago, they all wore blue jeans and white t-shirts. It's the uniform that 24-year-old Alex threw on most days before he left the house. Alex's Dad, Tom Teves, said that his …

Trump, Xi Must Get Rid of AI Compute

In the recent U.S.-China summit, the two leaders reportedly discussed many topics - from Boeing planes to new bilateral boards of trade and investment. A last-minute addition to the agenda: risks from artificial intelligence.

BREAKING: Iran Reportedly Agrees to Trump Terms on 60-Day 'Framework'

A Man for All Seasons

Susan Owens’s handsome new monograph reconsiders the life and career of the English landscape painter John Constable.

F.B.I. Arrests C.I.A. Official With $40 Million in Gold Bars in His Home

The only charge lodged against David Rush is that he inflated his academic credentials and obtained military leave pay worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Former Judges Urge Inquiry Into Deal Trump Struck With I.R.S.

The motion was particularly significant because it asked the judge overseeing the initial suit against the I.R.S. to examine the terms of the deal.

Australia's Broken Justice System: Andrew Bushnell | Quillette Cetera Ep. 64

From the murder of a five-year-old Aboriginal girl to Melbourne's tobacco wars, Andrew Bushnell joins Zoe Sankey to examine the human cost of Australia's broken justice system.

An Ivy League University Looks Inward

Podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Yale Law School professor Sarath Sanga, co-author of a new ⁠report⁠ explaining why the American public is losing trust in the country’s colleges and universities.

Why Texas suddenly has such a competitive Senate race

Ken Paxton makes a win possible for Democrats.

Treacherous Men

A fabulous new history of the Cambridge Five by Antonia Senior provides the definitive account of Britain’s most famous traitors.

Comey Trial Postponed to October

There will be pretrial motions to dismiss on constitutional grounds the ‘seashell’ charges that Comey threatened to kill President Trump.

RFK Jr responds to snake-handling critics with new video showing him wrangling a venomous rattlesnake

RFK Jr. responded to social media concerns by sharing a video showing how he and wife Cheryl Hines carefully handled a venomous rattlesnake rescue.

Social media erupts after Jill Biden reveals she was 'horrified' watching Joe's disastrous debate

Jill Biden recalled fearing Joe Biden was having a stroke during his 2024 debate against Trump, sparking criticism from conservatives and media figures.

Federal Reserve's Balance Sheet Needs To Shrink

Chairman Kevin Warsh will face resistance to reform from colleagues eager to protect their turf.

Anti-Zionism as Redemptive Racism

Contemporary anti-Zionism encodes a totalising worldview that blends the tributaries of Nazi, communist, and Islamist anti-Zionism into a single stream.

Trump says Delaney Hall protesters are ‘paid’ as clashes escalate outside NJ ICE facility

President Trump dismissed Delaney Hall protesters as fake and paid for as Democratic lawmakers alleged overcrowding and poor conditions at the ICE detention center.

Paxton crushes Cornyn in Senate primary in a big win for MAGA

John Cornyn became the second Republican senator to lose his seat in less than two weeks. A Trump endorsement helped propel Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to a more than 25-point victory.

Wednesday's Final Word

Seattle socialist mayor mocked for ‘irony’ as residents build walls to stop out of control shootings

Seattle residents built street barricades to stop rampant shootings months after socialist Mayor Katie Wilson took office, sparking online criticism.

Texas Democrats reject House candidate who called for imprisoning Zionists

The runoff was a test of whether the Democratic Party could successfully distance itself from a left-wing candidate whom leaders called antisemitic.

The Reflecting Pool Song: Blue on Blue, Heartache on Heartache

When Not to Hedge on ‘Antisemitism’

A note to editors.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Did Trump pick the right blue for the Reflecting Pool? We asked a pool guy.

Old Glory Blue? American Flag Blue? Let's reflect on all the shades, while a federal judge mulls "aesthetic injury" in Trump's latest decorating flourish.

Pentagon slashes NATO combat commitments as Trump pushes Europe to defend itself

The Pentagon informed allies it plans to reduce U.S. military contributions to NATO by one-third to one-half amid a push for European burden-sharing.

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.

Canada’s Newspaper of Record Asks: ‘What If They Ultimately Find Nothing?’

Five years after it helped promote a nationwide social panic over ‘unmarked graves,’ the Globe & Mail admits those graves might not actually exist—while also suggesting that it doesn’t really matter anyway.

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…

Pressure: Competent Men Get Their Due

Anthony Maras has made one of the best films so far this year.

Reading Around

From Democratic antitrust theory to Mary Todd Lincoln.

Did Republicans Put a Senate Seat in Play in TX?

Federal government’s landlord joins Vance fraud crackdown as White House widens hunt: 'Critical force'

The General Services Administration joins the White House fraud task force to combat waste and abuse in federal contracting and procurement systems.

Trump on Paxton and the Iran ‘Conflict’

Paxton’s win, with Trump’s support, in an intramural GOP contest tells us nothing about how the broad public views the war.

Desperate for Money, Planned Parenthood Turns to Blue States for Help

Judge hands Trump mail-ballot win for now as Democrats’ next move looms

A federal judge ruled Democrats' bid to block Trump's executive order on mail ballot delivery was premature since no agency has yet acted on it.

Finish the Job in Iran?

The cost question - Is it worth it? - is what the president always has to ask, an official said of using further military force in Iran.

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.

Judge Declines, for Now, to Block Mail-In Voting Changes Ordered by Trump

The ruling allowed the Trump administration to continue to pursue changes that include enlisting the Postal Service in checking voters against a national database.

The many hang-ups to a peace deal with Iran

Iran’s nuclear program is a big one.

In Today's NATO, People Arrested for Offending Muslims

NewsNation's Leland Vittert shared comments from Secretary of State Rubio and Vice President Vance to argue that the U.S. no longer shares values with its NATO allies or derives any benefit from remaining in the alliance.

A Democratic House Candidate’s Minor, Long-Ago Work for an al-Qaeda Front

What could be worse than a Senate candidate with a Nazi tattoo?

Economy Could Have Been Great--If Not for Trump

President Donald Trump has put the US economy through the wringer.

Justice Dept. Is Said to Open Criminal Inquiry of E. Jean Carroll, Who Accused Trump of Rape

Ms. Carroll, who prevailed in a civil trial after accusing President Trump of sexual abuse, is the latest target in a Justice Department campaign going after his perceived enemies.

Court Orders Customs Chief to Address Compliance on Refunding Tariffs

The surprising demand to appear at a hearing suggested new concern about the Trump administration’s efforts to repay the full $166 billion owed from illegally imposed tariffs.

Trump’s approval plunges among his White working-class base

In a striking shift, White voters without college degrees who voted to reelect Trump by a huge margin are now net-negative on his job approval.