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

‘Fiesta Mexicana’: El-Sayed campaign plans festive 9/11 while remembrance is missing from public schedule

Abdul El-Sayed's campaign scheduled county fair and Fiesta Mexicana events on 9/11's 25th anniversary, raising questions about the Michigan Senate race.

Can Democrats Create Their Own Project 2027?

If Democrats sell voters an inordinately optimistic view of what they can accomplish, they will be setting themselves up to fail.

Trump lawyers target what Letitia James won’t say about evidence in $450M case

Trump's lawyers accuse New York Attorney General Letitia James of concealing key Steve Cohen communications in the $450 million civil fraud case.

DOJ ordered to freeze antitrust work with Canada as trade tensions intensify

The Justice Department's antitrust division was directed to pause all cooperation with Canada amid the escalating U.S.-Canada trade war, according to a report.

The Tetris Company Denounces Trump White House Clone of Tetris

Responding to Build the Wall, an apparent copy of the retro video game, the Tetris Company said “we take copyright infringement very seriously.”

Diesel hits record $5.85 a gallon as Iran war drags on

Surging fuel cost puts additional cost pressure on manufacturing and retail.

Melania Trump will not attend the Republican midterm convention

Scheduled for the middle of next week in Dallas, the event designed to project party unity will be missing a well-known figure.

Another Illegal Busted in a Billion Dollar Medicare Fraud, Another Day Ending in 'Y'...or 'Why'

Lindsay Clancy Case Isn't Complicated

Unfortunately for Americans, that individual is a child killer.

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.

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.

Europe Is Sacrificing Its Citizens for an Ideology

Should We Put Data Centers in Space?

During a tense vote on a data center being built in her drought-stricken Arizona district last summer, Tucson City Councilmember Nikki Lee made an unlikely pitch: "We're going to get a little out-of-this-world for a second, so just bear with me."

Ambassador Who Removed Kehinde Wiley Work Described It as a Lesbian Picnic

Trump officials recently removed a painting from the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic without explaining why. An interview by Ambassador Leah Campos shed some light.

Cambridge Announces Review of Jason Arday's Death

ICE agent charged with lying about Minneapolis shooting released on bail

A lawyer for Christian Castro, 52, said he intends to fight the charges and that the agent never had any intention of fleeing to avoid prosecution.

Trump Says He Will Spend Some of His War Chest on Republicans

President Trump said he intends to hold some money back, even as Republican candidates ask for financial support.

Non-citizen police officers approved after Dem says ICE 'invasion' 'sends a message'

Danbury, Connecticut's city council voted 18-2 to let non-citizen immigrants and DACA recipients serve as police officers amid ongoing ICE raids.

Scrutiny of JD Vance’s Antisemitism Comments Not Ridiculous

When the Democratic Party has already been consumed by antisemitism, a lot of people are genuinely worried about whether Republicans will go the same way.

Comer indicates McConnell staffers aiming for lawmaker to return to Senate later this month

Rep. James Comer indicated that he has spoken with McConnell staffers who indicated they are aiming for the senator will return later this month.

One Day After Tesla Announces Cybercab, NHTSA Opens an Investigation

Red Reign

A thrash-metal classic turns forty.

The Feminist Was a Spy

The late, great Gloria Steinem did a stint with the CIA. Would today's CIA have a place for someone like her?

Vance on Tucker

Drawing a bright line here is the right thing to do.

Top DHS lawyer turns tables on 128 ex-judges after Bar declines ‘Worst of the Worst’ complaint

James Percival compared the 128 former judges' Florida Bar complaint to the Hunter Biden laptop controversy, calling the filing frivolous "Bar-fare."

The Dumb Prince and His Stupid Wife - Making No Friends Anywhere They Go

Veterans make emergency request to block construction of Trump’s arch

The administration is seeking to render the project a “fait accompli” by moving quickly, the veterans’ lawyers argued Friday.

On the Suppression of KSM’s Coerced Confessions in the 9/11 Case

Again the gnawing question: what to do about terrorists who should be executed when it may be impossible to try them?

The Case for Elites with Richard Hanania | Quillette Cetera Episode 71

Political scientist Richard Hanania discusses why populism usually fails, why Western elites matter, immigration, MAGA, H-1B visas, housing and declining fertility.

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…

It's Not Easy: John Ondrasik and 'Superman' Return to 9/11 Ground Zero

Fetterman faces Dem revolt as bombshell report fuels push to oust him: 'Disgrace'

Sen. Jon Fetterman's leaked texts reveal he dismissed meetings with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia over Medicaid cuts and skipped a police funeral.

Revolutionary Bloodlust, Ghoulish Satisfaction

Another senseless murder elicits a depraved reaction.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Judge Once Again Blocks Trump Administration’s Plans to Restrict Mail-In Ballots

The ruling arrived before the Supreme Court could decide whether to intervene but appeared certain to set off yet another round of appeals.

Former Kentucky Governor Is Arrested Amid Child Support Battle

Matthew Bevin, the former Republican governor, was held in contempt for failing to abide by court orders to file financial disclosure documents, a lawyer said.

Friends and Foes

‘I think there’s something admirable and rare about going to bat for your old pal.’

BREAKING: Mistrial Coming As Jury Hangs in Lindsay Clancy Case; UPDATE: Mistrial Declared

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

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.

Moving Bureaucratic Agencies Beyond the Beltway

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is moving half of its employees out of Washington, setting an example for the Federal Reserve and other agencies.

Ridiculous Bullying of Canada Will Backfire

Trump apparently assumed that Canada would quickly surrender because it had more to lose.

In Major Leak Hunt, Pentagon Gives Polygraph Tests to Joint Staff Members

About 50 people were tested, an unparalleled inquiry that comes in the wake of news reports about the war with Iran and the U.S. military’s diminished stocks of munitions.

Pelosi, Omar join Trump and Schiff as unlikely alliance pushes to onshore key industry

Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi and Ilhan Omar back Donald Trump's federal film tax incentive to bring movie production back to California and America.

Why So Many Young Men Are Giving Up on Work

Sydney psychiatrist Tanveer Ahmed on why men who quit work aren't depressed but demoralised, and how mental health labels became a rival source of status and dignity.

Reasons to Leave China

The Chinese Communist Party cannot and will not accept that its time in the sun has passed. But the public knows.

The Federal Reserve Is Out of Excuses

If Americans want inflation to return to normal levels, the Fed is going to have to do what it knows it has to do.

Trump moves to allow ranchers and hunters to kill gray wolves

The president ordered his administration to lift Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves, again wading into a fraught debate between ranchers and conservationists.

The $64 Question, Again

Anna D. Shapiro’s recent revival of Eric Bentley’s 1972 play about the HUAC hearings offered entertainment along with the pleasures of moral certainty and ideological reinforcement.

Trump says he will spend some, not all, super PAC money on midterms

Republicans have fretted over his war chest sitting on the sidelines. The president says he plans to hold onto some of the money for 2028.

The New Show 'Lanterns' Is Woke 1.0.

Democrats' Chance To Prove They Care About Children

Families in around 30 states will benefit from additional funds, regardless of whether they attend a public or private school. Sounds pretty good, right? So why are so many blue-state governors refusing to opt in?

Vance’s Scoreboard

It’s not clear to me that Vance’s statement is especially supportable.

New Science Ph.D. Program Saves Time and Money

A new program offers an alternative to the standard academic Ph.D. in science, and this competition will prove beneficial.

Mamdani faces growing 9/11 backlash as old post resurfaces ahead of Ground Zero ceremony: 'Is this real?'

Zohran Mamdani faces backlash over a resurfaced 2023 post about 9/11 as critics and 9/11 families urge him not to attend Ground Zero's commemoration.

Is College Still Worth It?

Yes, but not for the reason you think.

New York’s Race to Moderation

In the New York City suburbs, appealing to moderation is a winning bet.

Republicans Get a Win at the Supreme Court

What happened this week under the Trump administration

The president is winning the battle to build his ballroom and has his face on a $1 gold coin.

Ryan Reynolds and the Awesome 1980s

Maria Bartiromo’s attorney denies reports she was fired from Fox News

The longtime host’s high-profile attorney claims Bartiromo is “still employed” by the network and suggests legal action.

Gloria Steinem, a Voice Against Commercial Surrogacy

I’m grateful she helped highlight the possibilities for creative coalitions.

C.D.C. Says No Deaths This Year Attributed to Measles

The agency’s weekly update escalates a political fight after Pennsylvania said two deaths had been caused by the virus.

Postal Service Internal Watchdog Opens Inquiry After Whistle-Blower’s Complaint

The Trump administration’s effort to screen mail-in ballots for the midterms is facing numerous challenges.

Is This District the Key to the Midterms?

The closely watched rematch in Virginia's 2nd congressional district between former Democratic Representative Elaine Luria and the Republican who defeated her in 2022 is shaping up to be a doozy.

Trump’s Latest Clemency Grants Benefit Drug Offenders, Union Boss

The president issued pardons or commutations to 30 people on Thursday, continuing his unorthodox and unpredictable use of clemency power.

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.

Covering the Culture Wars

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Benjamin Ryan about his journalistic adventures reporting on AIDS, monkeypox, gender activism, and the Jason Arday saga.

Trump commutes sentence for former Philadelphia union official, attorney says

Former union official John Dougherty's lawyer George Bochetto confirmed to Fox News Digital that President Donald Trump commuted Dougherty's sentence.

Texas Senate hopeful Talarico ramps up Black outreach efforts

The Texas Democrat acknowledges criticism that Democrats haven’t been doing enough to court Black voters.

What to Know About Trump’s Efforts to Block Mail-in Ballots

We sort through the proposed changes and court challenges, less than two months from Election Day.

Trump Names Acting Army Secretary as Search Continues

Adam Telle will take over as acting secretary of the Army after President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Telle will temporarily replace the recently departed Dan Driscoll.

Trump Says More Insane Things About the Federal Reserve

He doesn’t understand how any of this works.

‘The Battle of Algiers’ at Sixty

Watching Gillo Pontecorvo’s film six decades after its release permits a nuanced understanding of the events that it portrays, which was unavailable when it first came out.

Naked in America

To be naked is to give up obsessive self-presentation and take off the mask.

North Carolina Adds New Restrictions to Vote-by-Mail Program

The changes are almost certain to cause some votes to be tossed. They come at a time when President Trump is promoting false claims of widespread fraud in mail voting.

In boost to GOP, Supreme Court says parties should get lower TV ad rates

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that political parties should get discounted TV ad rates when they coordinate spending with candidates.

Women’s Sport or ‘Transformational’ Activism: It Can’t Be Both

A U.S.-based Australian Rules Football league allows trans-identified men to play on women’s teams. When one turned out to be a convicted sex criminal, no one wanted to talk about it.

Friday's Final Word

Claire's Weekly Letter: The autism epidemic that wasn't

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…

Judge orders DOJ to disclose who conceived of now-defunct payout fund

The Trump administration dropped plans for a fund to compensate people who say they were unfairly prosecuted, but several lawsuits are ongoing.

WATCH: Illegal alien busted in battleground state after allegedly committing voter fraud

Exclusive footage obtained by Fox News shows HSI agents executing arrests as the Trump administration ramps up a nationwide crackdown on non-citizen voting ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Judge Will Not Block Pentagon Move to Fire Stars and Stripes Journalists

A judge appeared skeptical of the journalists’ arguments that they were fired for coverage of worsening conditions on a Navy warship.

Basilica...or Mosque? Abuses of Mass Migration to Maine

Cortes Investigates went to the Northeast to reveal the harsh truth on the ground: in rural Maine, of all places, a mass migration of Somalis afflicts a small town - they refuse to assimilate.

An Abject Policy Failure

An unorthodox survey suggests it’s time for the Australian government to concede defeat in the tobacco wars. Will it have the guts to do so?

Former Trump Cabinet official had 'inappropriately close' relationship with bodyguard, IG finds

Lori Chavez-DeRemer allegedly ordered a security agent to throw cash at a stripper during an Oregon trip, a Department of Labor OIG report says.

What Will Europe Do About Russia's Hybrid Attacks?

Missouri candidate charged with conspiring to plant drugs on opponent

Thomas Christopher Ross is running for Missouri’s House District 161 after narrowly winning the Republican primary against Louise Secker.

Power Without Principle

The Trump administration does not know how to use American power to expand American influence, and its officials do not care to learn.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Trump’s Mail-In Ballot Rules Return to the Supreme Court — but the Actual Dispute Is Missing

The Court will be presented with a kabuki dispute over a power the USPS isn’t claiming, even after the president ordered it to claim precisely that power.

Texas Democrat Hinojosa Pretends To Be Conservative

Democrats haven't won a statewide office in Texas since 1994. So this year, the Democrat at the top of the ticket is seeking to topple Republican Gov. Greg Abbott - by pretending to be a conservative.