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 Second Death of Charlie Kirk

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

Bitcoin Loses Trump-Era Gains as Crypto Market Volatility Signals Uncertainty

Bitcoin could drop further after wiping out all of its price gains since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump as liquidity is expected to remain thin for the near future.

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.

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.

Top Haitian leader reveals which US policy the country would be 'helpless' without: 'Give them money'

Leslie Voltaire, a member of Haiti's transitional council, says the end of Haitian's temporary protected status by the United States could lead to major economic and social disaster.

Saudi Arabia’s Counter-Reformation

The Takfiris are back in business.

NY Leads in School Spending--But Not Achievement

Governor Hochul's proposed budget would further balloon state expenditures on a failing education system.

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.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Trump Is Doubling Down on All the Wrong Things

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

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.

Adam Schiff is a leader of Democrats’ opposition to Trump. He also has to govern.

Six years after leading Trump’s first impeachment trial, Schiff reflects on the balance Democrats must strike between opposing Trump and lawmaking.

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.

Is McConnell Trying To Stall the SAVE Act?

'I just sent a letter to Mitch McConnell asking his committee to stop stalling the SAVE Act,' Rep. Brandon Gill said.

Republican Chairman of Homeland Security Spending Panel to Exit Congress

Representative Mark Amodei of Nevada added his name to the growing list of Republicans planning to give up their seats as their party faces losses that could cost them the House.

Hungarian PM Orban to Visit With Trump in D.C. in Two Weeks

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Saturday he will travel to the United States in two weeks for a meeting with President Donald Trump, aligning his visit with the inaugural leaders' gathering of the newly formed Board of Peace.

Democrats and the Media Create Hoaxes Daily

State Dept. Deletes Pre-Trump Second Term X Posts

The U.S. State Department has deleted all posts published before President Donald Trump began his second term on January 20, 2025, from its official X (formerly Twitter) accounts, according to a report by NPR on Saturday.

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.

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.

Democrats Likely To End Up With Nothing

Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries may call it common-sense solutions, but I would call their list of 40 demands for amnesty-like attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, nothing less than abolishing ICE altogether, and r…

Trump vows to ‘unleash’ commercial fishing off New England, reversing Obama-era Atlantic restrictions

President Donald Trump reopened a nearly 5,000-square-mile preserve east of Cape Cod to commercial fishing, reversing Obama-era restrictions.

Lying 'Journalists' Are Never Punished

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.

What Difference Does It Make If We *checks notes* Finally Got a Benghazi Terrorist

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 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.

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…

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…

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.

DHS fires senior CBP official for allegedly leaking sensitive information

DHS fires senior CBP official for allegedly leaking sensitive agent information to press as death threats against border agents surge 8,000% nationwide.

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.

Pelosi to Endorse Jack Schlossberg, Again Backing a Kennedy for Congress

The former speaker, a prodigious fund-raiser and shrewd campaign strategist, seldom intervenes in primaries but has made an exception for a Kennedy before.

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.

The Murder of The Washington Post

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

How U.S. Is Pushing Up Drug Prices in Other Nations

For the past few years, Swiss oncologist Christoph Renner has treated blood cancer patients with Lunsumio, a new drug that helps the immune system recognize and destroy malignant cells. Then, last summer, Renner got an email from Roche Holding AG,…

Hegseth says National Guard members shot in DC ambush by Afghan national will receive Purple Heart

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Purple Heart recognition for two West Virginia National Guard members, one killed and another recovering.

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.

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.

Psychiatrist Says Kennedy Was ‘Not Accurate’ in Discussing His Keto Studies

Dr. Christopher M. Palmer said in an interview that the keto diet, while promising, did not “cure” schizophrenia as the health secretary had claimed.

Why Are 6,000 Chinese Nationals Enrolled at U. of Illinois?

Steve Cortes investigates the rapidly growing trend of foreign students attending American universities in huge numbers, including 6,000 Chinese nationals enrolled in the University of Illinois, and asks how long U.S. taxpayers will continue to su…

“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.

Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill JD Vance was in possession of child sexual abuse materials: DOJ

Ohio man allegedly threatened to kill Vice President JD Vance during January visit. Federal agents also found that he had child sexual abuse materials.

Heir Jordan

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

Hegseth Says Defense Department Will Cut Ties With Harvard

Mr. Hegseth’s order appeared to target his alma mater, Harvard’s Kennedy School for public policy.

Report: Patel FBI Blocked Probe Into ICE Killing

Senior FBI officials under Director Patel ordered agents to halt an investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good amid concerns the probe could undermine public statements made by President Trump and senior officials, according to multiple s…

DHS Shutdown Likely After Democrats Issue Demands

When Chuck Schumer released a brief list of Senate Democratic demands for reforming Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of his maneuvers just prior to the beginning of a partial government shutdown last week, he had the short-term tactical…

Is TrumpRx Too Big To Ignore?

The show opens with the launch of TrumpRx, a new government website offering discounts on prescription drugs. "It wasn't really called Obamacare, but everyone put his name on it. They promised it would lower costs and you could keep your doctor, b…

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.

Friday's Final Word

Demanding Support for Trump, Justice Dept. Struggles to Recruit Prosecutors

Some offices are so decimated that the Justice Department has sent in military lawyers. More recently, officials asked for volunteers from other offices who can quickly deploy to places in desperate need.

How Epstein Files Undid Brad Karp at Paul Weiss

Donald Trump's return to the presidency last year set in motion a series of events that first shook Paul Weiss and later, with the Justice Department's release of records involving the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, led…

What Percentage of Our Economy Is Fake?

Pentagon cuts academic ties with ‘woke’ Harvard to focus on training ‘warriors’

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is ending graduate-level programs for military personnel at the school, which he claimed had become a breeding ground for “radical ideologies.”

What It Costs Not To Shovel the Snow

Watching cities recover-or, rather, fail to recover-from the late January snowstorm reminded me of a recent conversation with friends who had moved from New York City out to my neck of the (literal) woods.

After Boos for Vance, IOC Says it Hopes for 'Fair Play'

The International Olympic Committee said on Saturday it hoped for "fair play" after US Vice President JD Vance was booed at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Why I'm Endorsing Hochul

That's the vision that drove our mayoral campaign. It's the foundation of my administration. It's also what Governor Kathy Hochul said as we celebrated an agreement to deliver universal childcare-one of the largest expansions of the social safety …

How Not to Develop a Country

The idea that we should redistribute wealth by fiat from prosperous to low-income and stagnating countries remains popular even though it is profoundly misguided. 

Did AIPAC Blow Themselves Up in New Jersey?

In this telling, AIPAC is to blame for its own unenviable circumstance.

Why This Shutdown Is Different

Now come negotiations over the administration’s immigration crackdown.

Trump’s New Method of Humiliation

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

Meet the New Proud Boys

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

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.

DeSantis celebrates end of 'witch hunt' after Trump DOJ reportedly drops Hope Florida Foundation complaint

Gov. Ron DeSantis celebrates a report claiming the DOJ dismissed a complaint against the Hope Florida scandal, calling criticism a "witch hunt."

The Mellon Foundation's Idea of 'Social Justice'

America's biggest funder of the humanities subsidizes ‘Ecowomanism,' ‘Black Trans Studies' and the like.

Virginia Dems take tax hikes into overtime, target fantasy football leagues

Virginia Democrats propose 10% tax on fantasy football leagues as part of sweeping tax increases. New levy would hit fantasy sports revenue statewide.

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.

Bioethicist: Government Whole Milk Push Is Racist

Sometimes whole milk is just whole milk. It’s about improving health, not promoting bigotry.

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.

Colleges Should Teach Students How to Engage in Argument

Training in argumentation can prevent rancor and conflict.

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.”

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.

More Evidence for the 'Wokeness as Feminization' Theory

County Attorney Incensed That ICE Arrested Sex Offenders Outside Court

How Minneapolis Looks From the Police Chief’s Squad Car

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

‘Melania’ and the Real Housewives of Washington

The documentary highlights a few notable predecessors in the role, burnishing Mrs. Trump’s image by extension. But one apt comparison is pointedly left out.

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.

Ex-'Squad' Dem appears to be leaning on radical activist at center of damning Tlaib report in comeback bid

Ex-"Squad" Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., dished out over $20,000 to a consulting firm that appears to be the same one that got Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., in hot water for fundraising help.

‘Trust Has Been Breached’

The broken relationship between Minnesota and the federal government

The Choices That We Make

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Lindsey Graham: 'Let's Vote' on Immigration Crackdown Bills

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Saturday called for the Senate to hold floor votes on multiple immigration enforcement measures, saying the public deserves to see where lawmakers stand as Congress faces mounting pressure to resolve Department of H…

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.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on 2028, Democrats’ Problems and His Favorite Crab Cake

The Maryland governor discussed Trump, the country’s divisions and his workout routine.

Hegseth ending military education ties with Harvard amid Trump feud: 'We train warriors, not wokesters'

War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that military education programs with Harvard University will end in the 2026-27 academic year.

I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues

House GOP Presses SAVE Vote, Eyes Senate Pressure

House Republicans plan a vote next week on the SAVE America Act, a voting requirements bill that would pair proof-of-citizenship rules for voter registration with a nationwide voter ID mandate at the polls, as GOP leaders try to pressure the Senat…

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.

The WaPo Wipeout

‘I find the sense of entitlement with other people’s money wildly annoying.’

John Phelan, Trump’s Navy secretary, listed in Epstein flight logs

Documents indicate that Navy Secretary John Phelan was a passenger on Jeffrey Epstein’s Boeing 727 for two transatlantic flights in 2006.

Anti-China Group Launches D.C. Ad on 2026 Farm Bill

The Protecting America Initiative, a group that says it focuses on countering Communist China's influence in the U.S., launched a new TV and digital ad campaign urging Congress to pass a new farm bill in 2026, arguing that lawmakers have not enact…

CA Can't Shed History of Persistent Government Corruption

Prosecutions, referenda, recalls and regulatory agencies have, over the years, curbed some of California's government corruption, but not all of it.

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.

Contentious Weedkiller Gets a Green Light, in a Blow to the MAHA Agenda

The chemical, dicamba, is used to control weeds on genetically engineered crops. Courts previously had restricted its use.

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.

A Quick Primer on the Mexican Screw Worm Fixn' to Screw You at the Meat Counter

Trump Opens Marine National Monument in Atlantic to Commercial Fishing

Off the coast of Cape Cod, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a unique stretch of ocean that had been protected for a decade.

Binance Gives Trump Family’s Crypto Firm a Leg Up

Ties between the exchange and the president’s company, World Liberty Financial, have only strengthened since the president pardoned Binance’s founder, Changpeng Zhao.

Trump refuses to apologize over video showing the Obamas as apes

“No, I didn’t make a mistake,” the president said.

Judge Extends Block on Trump Officials Slashing Funds to Democratic States

The decision kept at bay a freeze of nearly $10 billion in child care and other social service funds destined for Minnesota and four other Democratic-led states.

Dick Morris to Newsmax: Obama Video Was a Stupid Mistake

Presidential adviser Dick Morris told Newsmax on Saturday that a social media video depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as monkeys was "obviously stupid" and "obviously a mistake."

American Workers Are Doing Well Overall, But the Biden Years Sucked

‘It’s a Five-Alarm Fire’

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

Republican majority at risk? A look at the 6 GOP Senate seats most in jeopardy in midterm elections

Senate Republicans face tough midterm battles defending their 53-47 majority, with Maine's Collins and seats in North Carolina, Ohio most vulnerable.

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.

Trump admin uncovers 'staggering' $8.6 billion in suspected California small business fraud

California pandemic loan fraud totals $8.6 billion as Small Business Administration suspends over 111,000 borrowers. Kelly Loeffler criticized Biden administration.

The Real Cause of Grade Inflation

Grade inflation is the predictable result of how American universities now organize teaching, labor, and money.

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.

ICE After Minneapolis

Trump’s team wants a reset on its mass-deportation goals, not a retreat.

Greenland FM: US Talks Positive, Outcome Unclear

Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said on Saturday that while it is positive that talks with the U.S. are ongoing, they are not yet where Greenland wants them to be, and it is too early to predict where they will lead.

The EEOC Investigates Racial Discrimination at Nike

Donnie Demands Dulles

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

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.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor: Friday 30 January — February 6, 2026

Trump says nuclear talks in Oman were 'very good,' claims Iran wants a deal 'very badly'

President Donald Trump says Iran "wants to make a deal very badly" after indirect nuclear talks mediated by Oman reportedly show diplomatic progress.

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.

Mace to Newsmax: Clinton Should Testify in Private Hearing

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said she intends to press former President Clinton under sworn testimony about his past associations with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, arguing that a closed deposition is the appropriate venue to pursue unanswered q…

Why Trump’s Calls to ‘Nationalize’ Voting Have Raised Midterm Fears

The president has escalated his language as his administration takes steps to involve itself more in election matters.