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

Mike Tyson Delivers KO to Big Food in Epic Super Bowl Ad

Tyson teams up with the Trump admin to expose the processed poison plaguing America

Everybody Hates Chuck, Part Three

Once again, House progressives are arguing that Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer must be replaced . . . but they have no way of forcing that to happen.

RNC's Gruters to Newsmax: Dems Fighting SAVE America Act to Cheat in Elections

RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said Democrats are opposed to the SAVE America Act because they want to cheat in elections by expanding illegal voting, a charge he made the crux of his Friday morning appearance on Newsmax's "National Report."

Texas special election emboldens Democrats heading into federal midterms

Races in the Lone Star State are among those that will be key to determining which party controls the U.S. House.

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.

Heir Jordan

Aaron Magid has written a timely biography of a consequential monarch.

RNC to Host Spring Retreat in Palm Beach

It’s unclear whether President Trump will attend the retreat in person, though it’s likely that RNC leaders will try to fit him into the event’s programming.

Rep. Mace to Newsmax: Congress Must Get to the Bottom of Epstein Cover-Up

Broader congressional scrutiny of the late Jeffrey Epstein's network, including testimony from high-profile figures such as former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is necessary…

Trump Is Doubling Down on All the Wrong Things

Republicans are worried about the midterm elections, but the president doesn’t seem to be.

They ushered their states through covid. Now they want to lead them.

Why doctors who led the pandemic response in their states are running for office.

Stand By: US-Iran Talks End In Oman Before They Begin

Maryland Man Attempted to Kill Trump Official to Prevent 'Fascist Takeover'

Nigeria’s first lady says US strikes were a ‘blessing,' welcomes collaboration with Trump

Nigeria's First Lady is seeking a stronger U.S. partnership against terrorism as lawmakers debate ongoing violence affecting Christian communities nationwide.

Officials Pressed Schumer to Help Name Penn Station, Dulles for Trump

Administration officials told the top Senate Democrat the president would release frozen funding for the Gateway project if the transportation hubs were renamed for him.

Stellantis Takes a (Very) Big Hit

Stellantis has joined the list of car companies taking massive charges as a result of their adventures in electric vehicles.

Trump deletes 'racist' post after wave of Republican backlash, White House says he didn't know

Congressional Republicans dropped their normal routine of cheering each of President Donald Trump's moves on Friday, and demanded he apologize for a post depicting the Obamas as apes.

Marines Remind the WHO You Don't Keep What Doesn't Belong to You

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.

Thursday's Final Word

The Canadian Paediatric Society Is Trapped in a Pre-Cass Time Warp

While other jurisdictions adopt balanced, evidence-based protocols for treating gender dysphoria, the CPS has doubled down on an obsolete policy instructing doctors to reflexively ‘affirm’ trans-identified youth.

Wes Moore warns Noem 'federal occupation' of new ICE compound now under state investigation

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called a DHS warehouse purchase "federal occupation," threatening legal action over reported immigration detention center plans.

An Undisciplined Novel

Randa Abdel-Fattah’s latest novel is a heavy-handed parable designed to show that Islamist radicalisation in Australia is merely a myth invented by a racist establishment. In the wake of the Bondi shooting, this seems less believable than ever.

Could It Be That the 2020 Election Fraud Will Be Exposed?

Gabbard Can't Be Trusted To Investigate Elections

"BREAKING," it said. "Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has just released HUNDREDS OF BOMBSHELL RUSSIAGATE DOCUMENTS proving that Barack Obama personally ordered CIA agents to manufacture false intelligence on President Trump."

Europe Needs a New Alliance

Trump’s threat to annex Greenland has revealed the shakiness of America’s commitment to NATO. Europe urgently needs to create its own alternative.  

Rep. Norman to Newsmax: Have to Show ID for Medicine, Why Not Voting?

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., blasted Democrats' opposition to the SAVE America Act on Friday morning, arguing that requiring proof of citizenship to vote is no different than any other everyday task that requires ID.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Steps Onto a Wider Stage

The progressive lawmaker is taking a larger role in Democratic politics, supporting moderate candidates and helping drive the party’s economic message. Now she is planning a major trip abroad.

Trump's 2020 Obsession Enters New Phase

The president's denial that he lost to Joe Biden now turns to a Tulsi Gabbard-led fishing expedition. What could go wrong?

DOT crackdown pulls hundreds of English-illiterate, illegal immigrant truckers off roads as crashes mount

Operation SafeDRIVE removes nearly 2,000 unqualified truckers from roads in 26 states. Federal enforcement finds 704 drivers out of service.

Newsom Is Very Similar to Harris

Two San Francisco local elected officials who successfully ran statewide in CA

Minnesota courts buckle from flood of immigration cases

Amid an immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis area, judges have lost patience with the Trump administration, saying officials are flouting their orders.

Republicans blast Democrats' Trump election meddling claims as hypocritical 'conspiracy theory'

Senate Democrats accused President Donald Trump of election meddling ahead of the 2026 midterms as Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., warned Trump wants to "rig the election" when Republicans lose.

White House removes social media video showing Obamas as apes after criticism

President Trump removed a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes after backlash from Democrats and Republicans, with the White House citing staff error.

Alleged key participant in 2012 Benghazi attack brought to U.S. to face charges

Officials announce the arrest of a man they called a key participant in the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killed a U.S. ambassador and three others.

Judge Allows Release of Evidence From Border Patrol Shooting

A Border Patrol agent shot Marimar Martinez five times. Video from the October incident in Chicago could now be released as early as Monday.

Lucy Connolly Was Set Up

Houlahan Refuses DOJ Interview Over 'Illegal Orders' Video

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan said Thursday she will refuse to comply with a Justice Department request to interview her about a video urging members of the military and intelligence community to disobey illegal orders...

Those seeking to sue ICE for injuries or damage face an uphill battle

Scores of claims are expected to arise out of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Experts say suing the government will be tough.

Did Gavin Newsom Witness His Mother’s Murder?

If the ‘courageous doctor’ intentionally administered an overdose with the intent to kill Tessa Newsom, it was murder.

Nationalizing Elections Is a Very Bad Idea, as It Was When Democrats Tried It

We all should want a system that functions in a way that balances the imperative for facilitating majority rule with the imperative for securing minority rights.

Border czar Tom Homan says 700 ICE and CBP officers are leaving Minneapolis

The reduction of ICE officers in Minneapolis is a significant scaling back of Homeland Security’s presence and comes after two U.S. citizens were killed.

Muslims Move to Assert Political Power in New York City

Zohran Mamdani’s ascension to mayor has given Muslim organizers and faith leaders the impetus to involve themselves in more formal political alliances and networks.

Dems Denounce Newsom's Failures in CA Governor Debate

About an hour and 44 minutes into this week's debate among seven candidates for governor of California, the moderator asked a question that he said had been sent in by

Trump Endorses Hungary's Orban for Reelection

President Donald Trump issued a strong endorsement of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, praising him as a "strong and powerful leader" and backing him for reelection ahead of Hungary's closely watched parliamentary vote.In a statement posted …

Donnie Demands Dulles

He won’t get what he wants, but if he did, it would veer close to karmic justice.

Iran, U.S. Hold Indirect Talks To De-Escalate Tensions

Iran and the US held indirect talks on Friday to reduce tensions that have threatened to spiral into war, with Tehran saying the meetings will be the first stage of a longer diplomatic process.

“No Friends but the Mountains”

America and the West have once again betrayed their Kurdish allies. Al-Sharaa’s assault on the Kurds of northern Syria, with Turkish backing, is just the latest chapter in the Kurds’ long struggle for self-rule.

U.S., Russia to resume high-level military talks

A U.S. official called the deal a by-product of ongoing efforts to end the Ukraine war. It came as a key nuclear treaty between Washington and Moscow expired.

No limits, no inspections: US and Russia face post–New START era as Trump pushes new nuclear deal

Nuclear treaty between U.S. and Russia has expired, leaving world's largest arsenals uncapped as Trump demands new deal and Moscow warns agreement "impossible."

Colleges Should Teach Students How to Engage in Argument

Training in argumentation can prevent rancor and conflict.

What Democrats are demanding in exchange for funding ICE

Republicans have criticized Democrats’ proposals as “a ridiculous Christmas list” but say they’re willing to negotiate.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Democrats Confront Advocacy-Group Litmus Tests

A group of moderate Democrats is kicking off the midterm season by targeting one of the mightiest, if least-known, forces in their party: the interest group questionnaire-industrial complex.

The Murder of The Washington Post

Today’s layoffs are the latest attempt to kill what makes the paper special.

Noem rips Dems for using families as ‘political weapons’ as DHS funding fight threatens life beyond ICE

DHS funding crisis threatens airport screening and disaster response as Democrats demand ICE reforms before approving budget, Secretary Kristi Noem said, with 280,000 employees at risk.

Trump Deletes Obama 'Monkeys' Post After Bipartisan Backlash

Following bipartisan backlash, including from a prominent Black Republican U.S. senator, President Donald Trump on Friday deleted a social media post showing former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as monkeys. The post, shared …

Trump Deletes Racist Video Portraying the Obamas as Apes

The White House press secretary had dismissed criticism of the clip’s racist content as “fake outrage.” But later Friday, the clip disappeared from the president’s social media feed.

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 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.

The Thornhill and Palmer Affair: When Evolutionary Biology Challenged Rape Orthodoxy

For their research showing that rape is generally motivated by sexual desire, Randy Thornhill and Craig Palmer were subjected to death threats and hounded in their personal and professional lives. And yet, they were right.

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.

No, the Washington Post Was Not Too Right-Wing

The Post is a distressed asset, and its managers are treating it like one. That is not remarkable.

US Brings Top Mideast Commander to Iran Talks in Oman

Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Oman on Friday, negotiations that appeared to return to the starting point on how to approach discussions over Tehran's nuclear program.

Progressive Moral Reasoning and Iran’s Revolt

Progressive discourse has become highly adept at identifying oppression, exclusion, and harm. But it is far less capable of understanding the basic conditions of political order.

Saudi Arabia’s Counter-Reformation

The Takfiris are back in business.

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…

Another Path Forward for Christian Zionists

American support for Israel isn’t the most important thing at stake in this debate — truth is at stake.

Trump launches TrumpRx.gov, branding his push to lower prescription prices

The president has argued his drug-pricing initiative ‘should win us the midterms.’ Experts say its impact could be positive but limited.

Who is Kyle Wagner? Meet the self-identified Antifa member arrested after targeting ICE

Federal authorities capture Kyle Wagner after he went "on the run" following accusations of inciting violence against ICE agents via his social media pages.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

TrumpRx: What to Know About Insurance Benefits, Pricing and Savings

People may be able to pay less for prescriptions with their insurance rather than via the new government website. The Trump drugstore is meant to help people buy medications using their own money.

Retired federal judge who wrote anti-Trump op-ed reportedly faced misconduct inquiry before resigning

A report indicated that retired federal Judge Mark Wolf had been the subject of a misconduct inquiry that was nixed due to his retirement.

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…

Please Help Me!

Mamdani Signs Order Reaffirming NYC's Sanctuary Policies

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed what his office described as a "comprehensive" executive order Friday, doubling down on the city's sanctuary policies while unveiling a broad "Know Your Rights" campaign aimed at curbing what City Hall des…

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.

The Roots of the Youth Sports Gold Rush

Steve Griffin got in on the ground floor with the John D. Rockefeller of youth sports. The climb out of the basement taught him that finance and kids' sports are a toxic mix.

The High Cost of Immigrant Welfare

There's a bigger story behind the Minnesota fraud scandal.

Epstein Mania on the Digital Borderlands

The longevity of the Epstein story owes less to new facts of criminal conduct than to its symbolic utility in alleging deviancy.

Meet the New Proud Boys

The far-right group’s views and tactics are now emulated by federal agents.

‘Trust Has Been Breached’

The broken relationship between Minnesota and the federal government

NATO Is an Alliance, Not a Protection Racket

Even if unsuccessful, Donald Trump’s aggressive campaign to acquire Greenland threatens to undermine America’s reputation as a champion of western security, freedom, and co-operation.

Murder Most Foul

William J. Mann’s new book about the notorious Black Dahlia case is a valuable corrective to the cottage industry of speculative theories that proliferated after her murder in 1947.

How Minneapolis Looks From the Police Chief’s Squad Car

In the city where George Floyd was killed, Trump hastens a new social breakdown.

Midterm Palpitations

Recent regional special elections have seen Democratic candidates win a number of special election races.

The Hidden Habeas Horror Show in Minnesota

Rep Thomas Massie responds after Trump calls him a 'moron' in National Prayer Breakfast speech

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., responded on Friday after President Donald Trump called him a "moron" while speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast.

Did a 'New' Arrest Just Puncture Lemon's 'Journalism' Defense?

Stellantis’s Shift Away From Electric Cars Will Cost It $26 Billion

The company, which owns Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep and Peugeot, is changing its strategy to gasoline and hybrid vehicles in an effort to revive weak sales.

Trump’s New Method of Humiliation

The president doesn’t seem to fire people anymore, but he marginalizes them in other ways.

FACE It: There Is a Double Standard

Trump shares, then deletes video depicting Obamas as apes

Tim Scott, the sole Black Republican in the Senate, called it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”

Comer probes sudden wealth jump tied to Ilhan Omar's husband, eyes link to Minnesota fraud

The House Oversight Committee is demanding records from Tim Mynett by Feb. 19 following scrutiny of his wife, Rep. Ilhan Omar, amid ongoing Minnesota fraud probes.

How Jeff Bezos Broke The Washington Post

The paper of record for the nation’s capital cut a third of its staff this week. It didn’t have to be like this.

Battles Are Raging Inside the Department of Homeland Security

Officials overseeing Trump’s mass-deportation campaign are fighting one another for power.

Police Finally Make Arrests in Minneapolis

‘It’s a Five-Alarm Fire’

The FBI’s search and seizure of material from Fulton County election offices marks a major escalation.

Why This Shutdown Is Different

Now come negotiations over the administration’s immigration crackdown.

Latest U.S. Boat Strike Kills 2 in Pacific

The operation was authorized by the Marine general who took command of military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean earlier in the day.

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…

The Middle East’s Politics Come to NYC

Snow uncleared, garbage piling up? Mamdani’s remedy is to take a page out of the Middle Eastern playbook he’s spent his entire adult life admiring.

The Case Against Don Lemon Is Junk, and Dangerous

If the Cities Church case falls apart, it will not be the first such embarrassment for Trump’s Justice Department.

Slotkin declines DOJ interview request in ‘illegal orders’ video case

Sen. Elissa Slotkin and other Democratic lawmakers filed a video last year reminding troops that they can ignore illegal orders.

The American Manifesto

For 250 years, we have attacked the earth, sky, sea, and space, not to conquer or control but to improve the conditions of human life. We blazed trails and broke the plains. We were first in flight and first to the Moon. We were first to electrify…

DHS Defends Using Facial Recognition Tech: Allows Quick Identification

Federal officials say the growing use of facial recognition by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other Department of Homeland Security personnel is a key enforcement tool, rejecting claims it violates privacy or the Constitution.

Ruddy to Schmitt: Trump 'Liberator' of Latin America

Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, standing near a monument to Simon Bolivar in Caracas, Venezuela, on Friday lauded President Donald Trump as "a new great liberator" and said the president "miraculously overthrew a regime" in Venezuela "without an invasion."

The Second Death of Charlie Kirk

The activist’s assassination unleashed anti-Semitism that is pulling the Trump coalition apart.

Approaching the Denouement of the '20 Election Drama

Where is it that the chickens go to roost? If you said "home," you don't quite get it. The correct answer is "Fulton County, Georgia." At least, that's where the chickens were congregating at the end of January when the FBI raided a Fulton County …

Libyan Man Is Arrested in Deaths of 4 Americans in 2012 Benghazi Attack

The man, Zubayar al-Bakoush, is the third suspect apprehended for the 2012 attack on U.S. facilities that killed four Americans.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Rep. Comer Probes Rep. Omar's Husband's $30M Surge

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is demanding documents from the husband of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., after financial disclosures showed his business holdings skyrocketed in value — a surge Republicans say raises red flags ab…

Trump Wants Dulles International Airport and New York’s Penn Station Renamed After Him

And he’s withholding congressionally appropriated federal funding for a major infrastructure project, in violation of the law, to make it happen.

AG Bondi: 'Key Participant' in Custody in 2012 Benghazi Attack

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday announced the FBI had captured and extradited Zubayr al-Bakoush, a suspect in 2012 attack on U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

How the Black Panthers’ Playbook Helped Minneapolis Activists Fight Trump

The monitoring of federal agents by activists has been at the heart of the opposition to the Trump administration’s raids. The tactic has a long history.

Gateway Tunnel Project Winds Down as Trump Continues to Suspend Funding

Nearly all of the work was scheduled to stop on Friday unless federal officials agreed to restore funding that had been halted last year or a court ordered them to.

A Pro-Israel Group’s Move Backfires as Gaza Tensions Flare in Midterms

A surprising twist in a New Jersey primary race showed how questions about Israel continue to roil American politics in unpredictable ways.

Niall Ferguson: Trump Was Inevitable (and Necessary), Mark Carney Was an Accident

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.

No Bodies, No Accountability

A new book catalogues the damage to Canadian society caused by a 2021 social panic over non-existent ‘unmarked graves.’

Why the Outrage Over the Cuts at the Washington Post Is So Annoying

The gap between the self-regard of those who were fired and the contributions of those who were fired is enormous.