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

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.

Report: Trump May Seek Earlier Iran Exit Than Netanyahu

White House advisers reportedly say they believe President Donald Trump will likely want to end major military operations in Iran before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

GOP candidate cites ‘failure’ of Newsom, Dems as new poll shows Republicans leading crowded California field

Steve Hilton, a Republican running for governor, said that the “absolute failure" by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats means that the GOP has a real shot at victory this year.

White House details offer to end partial government shutdown

Administration officials argue they are working to compromise with Democrats to unlock DHS funding and end the partial shutdown.

The Republican Party Continues Eating Its Own

What one lawmaker’s defection from the GOP says about the state of politics

Trump Moves to Lower Fuel Costs With Waiver

President Donald Trump's decision to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver is aimed at easing pressure on American consumers and strengthening supply chains as U.S. forces continue executing Operation Epic Fury, according to the White House.

Israel urges Iranians to revolt but privately assesses they’ll be ‘slaughtered’

Israeli officials told U.S. counterparts they hope for an uprising even though it would lead to a massacre, according to a State Department cable reviewed by The Post.

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…

The Insane Government Shutdown

Democrats vowed not to fund the Department of Homeland Security during a dangerous time, as Americans can expect further acts of terrorism in the U.S.

House panel subpoenas Bondi in Epstein investigation

The attorney general is slated to appear before a congressional committee to address DOJ’s handling of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump’s Pick for Homeland Security Secretary to Testify

Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma was chosen to replace the ousted secretary Kristi Noem and will face senators at a confirmation hearing on Wednesday.

War Requires Ugly Choices

If Trump wants to exit rather than escalate, he can take out Iran's oil infrastructure.

Everyone Has Trump’s Phone Number Now

The president’s personal iPhone has been lighting up.

A Paradoxical War

The American debate about the campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

I Recognize the Look on Liam Ramos’s Face

The 5-year-old was briefly held at Dilley, where families are sent after ICE roundups.

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.

A withheld endorsement leaves both Cornyn and Paxton courting Trump in Texas primary

Sen. John Cornyn and his rival Ken Paxton are still vying for the president’s backing, overshadowing one of the year’s most expensive and closely watched Senate races.

Rep. Harrigan to Newsmax: Dems Unwilling to Confront Iran Regime

Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., told Newsmax on Wednesday that Democrats have shown they would rather delay action on Iran than confront the regime's nuclear ambitions.

Rep. Bacon Warns Leaving NATO Would Cause GOP 'Civil War'

If President Donald Trump were to leave NATO, it would split and "destroy" the Republican Party, Rep. Don Bacon told CNN.

To Live and Die in LA's Film Industry

Top DOJ officials to brief House Oversight Committee for Jeffrey Epstein probe

Top DOJ officials are on Capitol Hill for a closed-door briefing as the House Oversight Committee intensifies its investigation into the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

USS Ford Heads to Crete for Repairs After Red Sea Fire

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, is leaving the Red Sea for repairs at a U.S. Navy base on Crete after a fire in its laundry area last week.

Kristi Noem Bought 11 Warehouses to Use as ICE Jails. Now What?

DHS’s next leader will inherit a fast-moving $38 billion plan for industrial-scale immigrant detention.

U.S. Marine Corps Being Destroyed From Within

My first official act as the Marine Corps officer instructor at the Naval ROTC at Vanderbilt University in 1979 was to blow up a classroom.

High Stakes, and a Low Bar, For Markwayne Mullin at DHS

Trump’s nominee has one big thing going for him: He’s not Kristi Noem.

U.S.P.S. Postmaster Says Service Will Be ‘Out of Cash’ in Under a Year

The U.S.P.S. leader said at a hearing that the service could run out of cash within a year and asked lawmakers to increase its borrowing limits.

Letters to the Editor

Friday 6 March – Friday 13 March

Lack of Trump Endorsement Fuels Cornyn-Paxton Race

President Donald Trump skipped a key endorsement deadline Tuesday in Texas' GOP Senate race, leaving Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton to face off in a costly May 26 runoff.

New audit exposes flawed system critics say let Minnesota fraud slip through cracks: 'Didn't act for years'

A new Office of the Legislative Auditor reveals that one of the Minnesota agencies plagued by fraud incorrectly believed it didn't have the authority to investigate kickbacks.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Paul Questions Mullin’s Character Over Response to Attack by Neighbor

Senator Rand Paul was assaulted in 2017. Markwayne Mullin acknowledged that he once said he understood the reason for the attack, but did not apologize.

A New World Order in the Making

An interview with Dr Shmuel Bar.

Made in Moscow

The foreign origins of Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson’s antisemitism.

Trump Isn’t Even Trying to Sell This War

Has the salesman in chief gotten rusty?

Blue-state Democrat on fast track to Senate defies Schumer

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton wins Democratic Senate primary race but vows not to support Chuck Schumer as majority leader in Washington.

Mullin Clashes With Rand Paul, Seeks Support at DHS Hearing

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., pushed back against Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, at the start of his confirmation hearing Wednesday, while urging lawmakers to set aside partisan d…

War in Straitened Circumstances

After nineteen days of war, Israel and America face a grinding conflict with Iran and Hezbollah, and there is no clear end in sight.

Change of Pace: US, Israel Attack Iran's Energy Infrastructure In Bushehr

Firm That Planned Trump’s Jan. 6 Rally Received No-Bid Contracts

This administration has given the company, staffed by the president’s allies, multimillion-dollar contracts it was guaranteed to win.

Dallas Republicans Reverse Course on Runoff Voting

Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Allen West said he will move forward with a countywide voting approach for the upcoming primary runoff, arguing the change is necessary to avoid voter confusion and operational risks.

Kathy Hochul Begs Rich People to Come Back to New York

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Sen Rand Paul grills Mullin on past comments on assault: 'Tell it to my face'

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul confronted Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin during a confirmation hearing on Mullin's nomination for homeland security secretary.

U.S. tells all its embassies to ‘immediately’ review security after strikes

The State Department order to review security at “ALL posts worldwide” follows persistent attacks on U.S. embassies, with almost 300 reported in Iraq alone.

Hormuz Shuffle: Trump Lifts Sanctions on Venezuelan Oil, Suspends Jones Act

Podcast #328: The Extraordinary Exploits of Agent Zo

Iona Italia talks to historian Clare Mulley about her biography of Polish war heroine Elżbieta Zawacka, aka Agent Zo.

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.

The Buzziest Outcomes From the Illinois Races

Here’s a rundown of the best comeback, proudest governor and most expensive water at a candidate’s watch party.

Iran Was Not an Imminent Threat? What Kind of Standard Is That?

Cornyn, Paxton Stay in Texas Senate Race Awaiting Trump Endorsement

The deadline for a candidate to withdraw from the Texas GOP primary ballot has passed with neither incumbent Sen. John Cornyn nor state Attorney General Ken Paxton dropping out while President Donald Trump continues to withhold his endorsement in …

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…

‘I’m Far Angrier’

Can Cory Booker, once the candidate of love, run for president and stay true to who he is?

Nick Shirley Is Gallivanting Through 'Hospice' Centers in Los Angeles +NEWSOM JUVENILE DELINQUENTS

Leaked teachers' union K-12 training presentation rails against Trump administration, red states

Nation's largest teachers union faces criticism for political activism after leaked training docs called democracy "at stake" and targeted GOP states.

Hearts of Darkness

Laura K. Field’s smart new book takes a critical look at MAGA’s Ivy League intellectuals.

U.S. Says Anthropic Is an ‘Unacceptable’ National Security Risk

In a legal filing, the government said it questioned whether the A.I. start-up could be a “trusted partner” in wartime, which led it to label the company a supply chain risk.

Speaker Chides Dems for 'Dangerous' DHS Shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Wednesday blasted Democrats for what he called a "dangerous" shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, warning that it undermines border security and puts Americans at risk.

Trump's Reaction to Joe Kent's Resignation Is Concerning

The former director of the National Counterterrorism Center and the MAGA-verse influencers don't look like a tipping point for Trump as of now, but it could be the start of something serious.

Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s DHS Pick, Hints at GOP Immigration Shift at Confirmation Hearing

The senator sounded a warmer and fuzzier tone at his D.H.S. confirmation hearing than President Trump often has, the latest sign that the administration wants to project a more moderated approach.

Senate votes to take up Trump’s voting bill to ‘guarantee the midterms’

The Save America Act does not have the support of the 60 senators needed to overcome a filibuster — but Republicans are set to debate it at length under pressure from President Donald Trump.

Trump highlights Border Patrol union's endorsement of Sen Markwayne Mullin to helm DHS

President Trump highlighted the Border Patrol union's backing of Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma for the role of Homeland Security secretary.

Can Vance Thread Needle on Iran?

Tuesday, March 17th on RealClearPolitics - Joined by RCP White House Reporter Phil Wegmann

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.

Judge Orders Voice of America to Restart All News Operations

More than 1,000 full-time journalists and support staff at the news group were ordered to return to work by March 23 and to resume broadcasting.

Judge questions Trump aides’ ‘brazen’ claims on White House ballroom

The planned $400 million project has been a top priority for the president. Judge Richard Leon said he hopes to rule this month on whether to halt construction.

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.

F.A.A. Ends Use of ‘See and Avoid’ for Helicopters Near Busy Airports

The notice suspends the practice of allowing helicopter pilots to rely on visual separation to avoid striking other aircraft, as happened during last year’s deadly midair collision in Washington.

The Original Ladies of Letters

A new book by Elizabeth Scott-Baumann examines the female poets and literary critics who challenged seventeenth-century England’s male literary establishment.

Mullin: Made a Mistake on Alex Pretti Remark

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., acknowledged Wednesday that he spoke too quickly when making remarks about Alex Pretti, telling lawmakers during his confirmation hearing for Homeland Security secretary that he regretted commenting before all the f…

Tulsi Gabbard and Top Intelligence Officials Will Testify on Iran War in Senate Hearing

In a Senate hearing on Wednesday, lawmakers are likely to ask about the information provided to the Trump administration ahead of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Iran’s South Pars Gas Field Is Attacked, Sending Energy Prices Soaring

The field is part of a vast gas reservoir shared by Iran and Qatar. The strike appeared to be one of the most significant attacks on an energy site since the U.S.-Israeli air war against Iran began.

Podcast #329: Has the Gay Rights Revolution Gone Too Far for the Gay Community’s Own Good?

Jonathan Kay speaks with Ronan McCrea about his new book, ‘The End of the Gay Rights Revolution: How Hubris and Overreach Threaten Gay Freedom.’

European leaders rebuff Trump’s call to open the Strait of Hormuz

Trump has expressed frustration over a lack of military assistance from allies, but European leaders are reluctant to join a conflict he started without consulting them.

There's Only 1 Thing Voters Dislike More Than Dems

Voters aren't wooed by throwing f-bombs at Trump. With only months until the midterms, Democrats don't have a lot of time to turn things around.

Federal judge refuses to recuse himself from Minnesota DHS, ICE case

The Department of Justice plans to appeal an order from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan refusing to recuse himself from an immigration case.

A Police Report About a House Candidate Surprised the White House

A woman’s allegations of rape against a Republican House candidate have put Trump in a bind.

Britain’s Half-Measures on Iran

As Iranian agents surveil London’s Jewish communities and IRGC-backed plots multiply, Britain’s failure to proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps endangers UK citizens.

The Republican Who Wants to Banish His Own Constituents

Representative Andy Ogles wrote on Monday that “Muslims don’t belong in American society.” He represents thousands of them in Congress.

Democrats Are Total Hypocrites on SAVE America Act

Opposition from the left has been fierce. Democrats have vowed to filibuster the bill to prevent it from passing the Senate.

NY Times: Cesar Chavez Accused of Sexually Abusing Young Girls

Progressive influencer erupts after Illinois primary loss, drops profane Anti-Trump and Anti-ICE rant

Progressive candidate Kat Abughazaleh delivered an expletive-filled concession speech after losing the Illinois Democratic primary, targeting President Donald Trump and ICE.

Intel Analysts Hid Fact That China Interfered With 2020 Election

Trump’s ICE Raids Upend South Texas Construction Industry

In South Texas, two of President Trump’s top priorities, the economy and immigration, are colliding as ICE raids upend the construction industry and frustrate workers.

Vox: Democrats Still Don't Have a Clear Answer on Trans Issues

NATO heavyweights balk at Hormuz mission as Trump warns alliance at risk

UK, France and Germany decline combat roles in protecting key oil choke point, drawing warnings from Trump and GOP allies about NATO’s reliability.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Arizona Is Now at the Center of Election Investigations

Both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are probing the results of the 2020 election in Arizona.

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 voting bill Trump says will secure victory could backfire

Requiring Americans to prove they are citizens when they register would create obstacles for millions of eligible voters and in some cases could hurt Republicans more than Democrats.

An Ambivalent Relationship

Southeast Asia in World War II, Part Three: Independence Movements under Japanese Occupation

McConnell claims Joe Kent's resignation letter contained 'virulent anti-Semitism'

GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell asserted that Joe Kent's letter of resignation from the the National Counterterrorism Center director role displayed "virulent anti-Semitism."

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 White Working Class Is Quiet Quitting Trump

Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win the white working class (conventionally defined as "white non-college voters," i.e., white voters who lack a college degree).

King of IL: Pritzker Swings Senate Race as He Targets Trump

Gov. JB Pritzker emerged as the kingmaker in deep-blue Illinois after pouring millions of dollars and staking his political reputation to deliver his hand-picked Senate candidate a primary victory on Tuesday.

FBI director ticks off terror threats foiled by agents

The FBI used expanded online surveillance and biometric tracking to prevent December terrorist attacks, including a planned bombing and New Year's Eve events, FBI Director Kash Patel said.

NEW: Israel Takes Out Iranian Intel Chief

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.

Gabbard tells senators Iranian regime is degraded but still intact

The director of national intelligence provided the Senate Intelligence Committee with mixed messages about the state of Iran’s nuclear program before the war began.

Tuesday’s Final Word

Chief Justice Roberts: Personal Hostility at Judges Has 'Got to Stop'

Chief Justice John Roberts said that hostility directed in personal terms at judges is "dangerous and it's got to stop," commenting just days after President Donald Trump's latest social media broadside against judges who have ruled against him an…

Could AI Undermine Hayek's Point About the Limits of Central Planning

Newsom's Climate False Alarms

Global warming isn't behind California's wildfires, and fires around the world are declining.

Yes, MAGA Is Fracturing Over Iran

President Trump's movement might not survive the war.

The ‘Big Black Scar’

Trump is blowing up national-park land in Arizona to wall off one of the border’s last wild places.

A 79-Year-Old Freshman Senator?

Janet Mills does not have a dicey Reddit history or a recently covered-over Nazi tattoo. But her candidacy is haunted by Joe Biden’s 2024 debacle.

How AIPAC, crypto and a billionaire governor shaped the Illinois primaries

The win capped a mixed night for AIPAC and crypto, which spent heavily in Illinois’ primary elections.

The Last Thing Trump Wants To Do Is 'Save America'

A president who cares about a particular policy or piece of legislation is typically a president who can speak fluently on the subject.

The Many Faces of Tucker Carlson

Jason Zengerle’s new book about the degradation of a once-gifted writer and broadcaster also illustrates the downward trajectory of the entire news industry during the same period.