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

Ryan Routh Gets Life Sentence for Trump Assassination Attempt

Ryan Routh, a man accused of hiding in the bushes of a Florida golf course with a semi-automatic rifle to try to assassinate Donald Trump less than two months before the 2024 U.S. election that returned him to the presidency, is set to be sentence…

‘Trust Has Been Breached’

The broken relationship between Minnesota and the federal government

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.

Schumer: Immigration Enforcement 'Reminiscent of a Dictatorship'

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., says immigration enforcement in the U.S. "is reminiscent of a dictatorship."Schumer was joined on Wednesday by House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York at a media briefing where they criticize…

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.

Supreme Court Clears Way for California Voting Map

The state’s Republican Party had asked the justices to step in and block the new congressional maps, which give an advantage to Democrats, before the midterms.

WSJ Editors: Say, The Epstein Files Release Was a Bad Idea, Huh?

Blue States Move To Ban Local Cooperation in ICE Arrests

Maryland is poised to bar local law enforcement agencies from formally facilitating federal immigration arrests, joining several other states who have sought to use their local authority to curtail the Trump administration's ramped-up enforcement …

Can Sociology Be Salvaged?

Sociology could return to academic respectability, but that would mean abandoning its current ideological framework.

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…

A History of Morality Clauses

The century-old moral panics and persecutions by Anthony Comstock and the Society for the Suppression of Vice are echoed today by cancellation campaigns from the moralistic Left and Right.

Americans Want Voter Integrity. Why Don't Democrats?

Republicans should allow Democrats to exhaust themselves with the 'standing filibuster,' then pass the SAVE Act.

'Can you shut him up?': Waters and Treasury's Bessent clash over Trump's economic agenda

Rep. Maxine Waters asks "Can you shut him up?" during heated exchange with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over President Donald Trump's tariffs.

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.

Republicans Try to Save John Cornyn From Ken Paxton’s Challenge in Texas Senate Race

Senator John Cornyn, once seen as a potential Republican leader in his chamber, is now depending on wealthy party donors to survive a right-wing challenge.

Trump Is Doubling Down on All the Wrong Things

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

Rep. Perry to Newsmax: Clintons Will Try to 'Obfuscate' on Epstein

Honest answers are expected from former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during their testimony on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, but they will likely try to "obfuscate,…

F.T.C. Settles With Express Scripts Over High Insulin Prices

The Trump administration announced that the company, a pharmacy benefit manager, had agreed to make significant changes to its practices.

Fulton County in Georgia Challenges the F.B.I.’s Seizure of 2020 Ballots

The county filed a motion demanding the return of ballots and other election materials that were seized by the F.B.I. in a highly unusual move by the Trump administration.

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.

Mobbed on Campus, Vindicated in Court

Four years after the University of Washington began investigating Stuart Reges for authoring a satirical ‘land acknowledgement,’ his First Amendment rights have been upheld by the Ninth Circuit.

Immigration Reform Can't Wait Another 40 Years

Forty years ago, Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Bessent Says Fed Lacks Accountability and Has Lost Public Trust

In a House committee hearing, the Treasury secretary declined to say if the president has the power to fire a member of the central bank’s board.

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.

Donald Trump Throttles His Own Passion Project

The president made it plain to all that he wanted to leave an indelible mark on the Kennedy Center, and he has.

Trump digs in on ballroom size, saying height will match that of White House

Review panels and a federal judge have asked if the project can be made smaller. Historic preservationists say the planned 90,000-square-foot addition will overshadow the mansion.

House conservatives warn Trump-Schumer deal undercuts GOP leverage on DHS funding

Some House Republicans say the deal to avert a shutdown weakens GOP leverage on immigration enforcement, with DHS funding now set to expire in February.

Supreme Court Allows New Pro-Dem California Voting Map

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed California on Wednesday to use a new electoral map designed to give Democrats five more congressional seats, improving the party's chances of regaining control of the House of Representatives from President Donald Tr…

Anti-ICE Agitators Ironically and Illegally Blockade Minnesota Streets

Protesters are stopping cars that have out-of-state license plates and asking drivers for ID.

Blue-leaning state emerges as top GOP trouble spot as Senate campaign chief sounds midterm alarm

Senate Republicans face polling deficit ahead of midterm elections as GOP defends 53-47 majority. NRSC chair warns of tough battles in key states.

Tim Walz Fears a Fort Sumter Moment in Minneapolis

The Minnesota governor warns of a national unraveling.

Thune blasts Jeffries, Schumer as 'afraid of their shadows' as DHS funding fight heats up

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., believed that the top two congressional Democrats were "afraid of their shadows" as DHS funding negotiations gear up.

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…

Noem Hails Trump Border Success in Arizona

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday praised law enforcement officials for their work under President Donald Trump "to make sure that we have freedom and liberty for our children and our grandchildren for years to come."

Lee H. Hamilton, a Foreign Policy Power in Congress, Dies at 94

A moderate Democrat from Indiana for 34 years, he led the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees and helped investigate the Iran-contra scandal and the Sept. 11 attacks.

What the Crackdown Has Done to Minneapolis Children

“It’s like living in fear all the time,” a teenager said about the federal raids that have shattered families.

First Medical Society to Break Ranks on Gender Treatments for Minors

Supreme Court shuts down California GOP bid to block Newsom's new map

The decision comes after voters in California approved a ballot measure called Proposition 50, which allowed the state to enact a Democrat-friendly map in time for the midterms.

Sánchez as Merkel, with a Touch of Franco

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has announced plans to crack down, directly or indirectly, on internet free speech.

Burgum to Newsmax: 'Mine, Baby, Mine' to Counter China

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the Trump administration is moving to build a critical minerals trading bloc with U.S. allies and use tariffs to prevent China from undercutting global prices, arguing that decades of offshoring and environmenta…

Sen. Tim Scott Rejects Allegations Against Fed Chair Powell

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., said Wednesday that he does not believe Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell committed a crime during congressional testimony last year...

Trump Hands Democrats a Golden Opportunity

Three slices of American voters are having three distinct reactions to the president's first year in office.

How Minneapolis Looks From the Police Chief’s Squad Car

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

The Iranians Aren’t Acting as Though They Want to Negotiate

Why is President Trump so eager to negotiate with a regime that has broken almost every treaty it has ever signed?

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.

Standoff over ICE tactics could trigger another partial government shutdown

Democrats have demanded that Republicans agree to accountability measures to rein in personnel from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other agencies.

Prosecutor Fired After Voicing Frustration With Immigration Caseload

The prosecutor, Julie T. Le, told a judge that she and her colleagues in the U.S. attorney’s office were overwhelmed by the White House’s immigration operation in Minnesota.

Contrary to the Narrative, Illegals in Tennessee Have Been Behaving BADLY

BREAKING: Trump to Iran: Pound Sand

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.

What Is Border Patrol Doing in American Cities?

Securing the southern border through policy changes provided an ample reserve of CBP agents that could be redirected to interior enforcement.

Saudi Arabia’s Counter-Reformation

The Takfiris are back in business.

The Murder of The Washington Post

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

Georgia's Fulton County files motion seeking return of 2020 election materials seized by FBI

Fulton County officials are seeking a federal court order to compel the FBI to return over 600 boxes of 2020 election materials seized during a recent raid.

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…

The SAVE Act Is Jim Crow 2.0, Dems Will Never Vote for It

During remarks on the Senate floor Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke about the SAVE Act.Stay ConnectedForbes Breaking News on X

Mexican cartel scion, wanted in journalist’s death, sentenced to 5 years

Mexico has sought Damaso Lopez Serrano’s extradition since 2020, charging him with ordering the killing of Javier Valdez, an award-winning journalist in Mexico who covered the drug trade in Culiacán.

Minneapolis City Council moves to spend $500K on immigrant legal services

Minneapolis City Council moves to expand immigrant legal services with additional half-million in funding as demand for services grows.

Do Conservatives Read Good?

We can hold out hope that Yglesias and those who seek out self-affirmation in the guise of dispassionate analysis will encounter this critique.

Meanwhile, Business is Booming at the NY Times

Border czar Tom Homan calls anti-ICE roadblocks in Minneapolis a 'joke' after police chief disbands them

Border czar Tom Homan called anti-ICE roadblocks in Minneapolis a "joke" while announcing 700 federal agents will withdraw from the Twin Cities area.

She Did the Work on ICE Watch So You Don't Have To

The Second Death of Charlie Kirk

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

God of the Yawning Gaps

It’s hard to believe in God when even very bright, thoughtful people can’t come up with good reasons why you should.

Is Trump Losing the Plot? There's Still Time To Fix It

Donald Trump did not win the 2024 election because America suddenly became meaningfully more Republican. He won because voters, many of them independents and crossover Democrats, many of them young, had lost trust in the system and believed he was…

Fulton County goes to court to demand return of ballots seized by FBI

Robb Pitts, chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, vowed that county officials would use “every resource” to secure ballots and other material.

Seattle Police Union Chief Blasts Mayor's Anti-ICE Order

The head of the union representing Seattle police officers is pushing back against a directive from Democrat Mayor Katie Wilson ordering local officers to monitor and build cases around federal immigration enforcement.

Road to Pax Americana Runs Through Congress

Will the Senate GOP finally utilize the institutional power required to deliver the wins American voters gave Trump the mandate to achieve?

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

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

The reduction is a significant scale back of the Department of Homeland Security’s presence in Minnesota and comes after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot.

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.

Texas Democrats taste victory, then turn on each other

Days after their win in a state Senate race, reports of a racially charged comment roil the U.S. Senate primary contest.

Supreme Court clears way for California voting map that bolsters Democrats

The Supreme Court allowed a new California voting map that could help Democrats gain up to five seats in Congress.

Gavin Newsom Wants to Be President, But It Could Be a Tough Sell

Trump's Proposed Ban on Free Buses Could Nix Mamdani's Plans

The Trump administration is weighing a crackdown on "fare-free" bus programs in big cities that take federal transit money - a shift that would put New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plan to make all city buses free on a collision course with Wa…

Trump Looking at Issuing Licenses for Oil Production in Venezuela

House Judiciary Committee Outlines 10-Year EU Campaign to Silence Americans

Porter: How DOJ Can Prosecute for ICE Obstruction

Why It's Easier Than You Think for Trump to End Paid Protests

Lee Hamilton, foreign policy leader in Congress, dies at 94

President Barack Obama called the Indiana Democrat “one of the most influential voices on international relations and American national security.”

Trump calls Savannah Guthrie as search for her missing mom intensifies

President Donald Trump calls NBC "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie about her missing mother Nancy Guthrie, 84, last seen Saturday as sheriff says "we do have a crime."

Trump doubles down on calls for GOP to 'nationalize' voting as congressional leaders balk

President Donald Trump calls for Republicans to "nationalize" voting in certain areas, defending federal election takeover despite constitutional concerns.

Trump’s New Method of Humiliation

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

Tuesday’s Final Word

The Penny Drops: WaPo on Life Support As Big Layoffs Start?

Start Spreading the Nukes, Part 2

A credible nuclear deterrent is the best way to avoid nuclear war, but can European nations devise systems with credibility?

Homan to Minneapolis Leftists: You Think Illegal Roadblocks Will Stop ICE?

Ex-Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn Seeks Maryland House Seat

Mr. Dunn, who rose to prominence for defending the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, will run for a hotly contested Southern Maryland seat.

Let the Affordability Bidding War Begin

As Trump falters, Democrats have a chance to outbid him with bolder solutions on prices, power, groceries, and health care.

Gavin Newsom sat by his mother during her assisted suicide, and came to terms with anger and grief

The governor and potential presidential candidate spoke about his mother’s controversial decision to end her life and the impact it had on his political beliefs.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Border Czar Says He Is Pulling 700 Immigration Agents Out of Minneapolis

About 2,000 personnel will be left in Minnesota, where President Trump’s immigration crackdown has generated outrage.

The Gentle Wildness of Tasmania

Tasmania looks like wilderness from afar. Up close, it is lush, intimate, and unexpectedly generous—a place that feels familiar, yet entirely its own.

In Spending Talks, Senators Clash Over Immigration Crackdown

Democrats’ push to rein in federal agents, and Republican opposition, reflect opposite views of whether the deportation drive should be bound by standard law enforcement rules.

The Russo-Ukrainian Cease-Fire Trump Sought Is Already Over

After about 96 hours, Moscow ‘broke the truce’ with renewed strikes on civilian targets.

Defense Dept. effort to punish Mark Kelly draws skepticism from judge

A federal judge said Pete Hegseth appeared to be expanding restrictions on free speech that have applied only to active-duty service members.

Heir Jordan

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

CNN Political Briefing

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

Schumer, Jeffries mend rift, present united front on DHS reforms as deadline nears

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., unveiled a retooled list of DHS reforms as Republicans cast doubt on their demands.

Fulton County Seeks Return of 2020 Election Files

Lawyers for Fulton County, Georgia, officials on Wednesday filed a motion in federal court seeking the return of all 2020 election files seized by the FBI last week. County Commission Chair Robb Pitts announced the move during a news conference...

Census Shifts

Democrats and Republicans alike should take note of the recent census data.

Kevin Warsh Must Move Fast, Undo Powell's Mistakes

President Trump was smart to select Kevin Warsh as next Fed chairman. He should reverse Jerome Powell's policies and work quickly to restore stability at the Federal Reserve.

Why This Shutdown Is Different

Now come negotiations over the administration’s immigration crackdown.

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.

Battles Are Raging Inside the Department of Homeland Security

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

‘It’s a Five-Alarm Fire’

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

Trump’s Call to ‘Nationalize’ Elections Adds to State Officials’ Alarm

Some top state election officials, who run voting across the country, worry that the federal government has become hostile to them and their work.

A Preview of Post-Populist Liberalism in Spain

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has issued a decree legalizing half a million formerly illegal immigrants.

Trump plans to install Christopher Columbus statue outside White House

The president has worked to recognize the explorer, saying Italian-Americans should “remember” Trump’s efforts when they go vote.

Rep. Mace: Bill Gates Must Testify on Epstein Files

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., asked House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer to subpoena billionaire Bill Gates to testify under oath about his relationship with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a media release issued by Mace's…

83% Favor Voter ID, It's Not Controversial

CNN data analyst Harry Enten breaks down the results of a Pew poll showing widespread support for voter ID, with 95% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats agreeing with Nicki Minaj's post in favor of requiring a photo ID to vote.

The Fall of Zhang Youxia

A septuagenarian loyalist may be facing execution for the crimes of caution and professionalism.

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.

Faith Shined at Grammys, Not Foul-Mouthed Scolds

Instead of talking politics, country artist Jelly Roll talked about his faith while accepting an award at the Grammys.

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.  

“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.

Attempted Trump assassin Ryan Routh is sentenced to life in prison, plus 7 years

Ryan Routh was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison plus seven years following his 2024 assassination attempt against then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Vance to Lead White House Anti-Fraud Task Force

The White House is preparing to launch a new anti-fraud task force aimed at cracking down on abuse of government-funded programs in California and other states, sources familiar with the plans said.

House votes to end government shutdown, buy time for ICE talks

The bills, later signed by President Donald Trump, fund most of the government through September. But Congress now has 10 days to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Meet the New Proud Boys

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

Woman Euthanized and Her Face Transplanted in Spain

Euthanasia conjoined with organ harvesting just took a particularly disturbing turn.