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 Pete Hegseth Exception

Nearly a year after a national-security scandal erupted on my iPhone, no one in the Trump administration has faced consequences.

Good News! U.S. and Israel Still Blowing Up Bad Stuff and Bad People in Iran With Impunity

Trump Administration Plans New Approach to Ending DEI

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.

Unlike Past U.S. Conflicts, Iran Attack Is Opposed by Most Americans

While the public has historically backed military intervention initially in international conflicts, deep polarization has left the latest strikes against Iran with record-low support.

Thune Rejects Filibuster Change as Trump Pushes SAVE America Act Vote

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pushing back against calls to rewrite Senate rules to pass President Donald Trump's top election reform priority, setting up a clash within the Republican Party over how to advance legislation requiring voter I…

Mamdani sparks viral outrage over dinner photo with Mahmoud Khalil inside Gracie Mansion: 'Disgraceful'

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani faces online backlash after hosting accused Hamas supporter Mahmoud Khalil for dinner at Gracie Mansion, sparking controversy.

Why Trump Changed His Mind on Kristi Noem

Congressional questions about contracts, ads, and extramarital sex ended her tenure.

Mississippi and Georgia Elections: What to Watch in Today’s Primaries

It’s Primary Day in Mississippi, where a younger Democrat is trying to oust a House veteran, and in Georgia, where Marjorie Taylor Greene’s former seat is up for grabs.

Sen. Moody to Newsmax: US Not Backing Down From Threats

Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., said Tuesday on Newsmax's "National Report" that the United States is working to avoid armed conflict while making clear it will not retreat in the face of threats.

Musk Is Enticed by the Lunar Siren

Elon Musk should remain focused on Mars; diverting to the Moon would be a mistake.

Pete Buttigieg in the Wilderness

He has a beard, a splitting maul, and a house in Michigan. Is that enough to convince America that he’s a man of the people?

Podcast #327: Will Post-Islamist Iran Get a Royal Restoration?

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Iranian-Canadian human-rights activist Kaveh Shahrooz about whether Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the last Shah of Iran, might rise to power as a new Prince of Persia.

Trio named to replace Alina Habba as U.S. attorney is also serving illegally, judge says

The decision comes amid a growing standoff over U.S. attorney appointments among all three branches of government.

DNC Sues Agencies Over Polling Place Records

The Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., accusing multiple Trump administration agencies of unlawfully withholding records related to potential federal law enforcement or military involvement …

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticizes Supreme Court emergency rulings

During a public forum, Jackson and conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh offered differing views of President Trump’s wins before the high court.

Out on the Wily, Windy Moors...

Emerald Fennell’s misbegotten adaptation of ‘Wuthering Heights’ destroys the very structure of Emily Brontë’s classic story.

Democrats Sued to Find Out Whether Trump Will Send Armed Officers to Election Sites

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, the D.N.C. sought to compel the government to say whether it plans to deploy armed federal officers in this year’s elections.

U.S. Solar Installations Fell in 2025 as Trump Attacked Clean Energy

More solar energy was added to U.S. grids than any other technology, but the amount installed fell by 14 percent, according to a new report.

Australia grants asylum to 5 Iranian soccer players after Trump pressure

The late-night visa approval came after a days-long operation, authorities said. The players had been criticized back home after they stood silently during the Iranian anthem.

Trump’s wearing of baseball cap during dignified transfer draws criticism

President Trump faced continued blowback for wearing a USA-emblazoned cap during a dignified transfer ceremony for soldiers killed in the war with Iran.

Everything You Know About News Advertising Is Wrong

The case for increasing investments in news advertising to grow your business.

The Soft Disinformation Contagion

How we learned to reason poorly with accurate data.

Iran’s Women’s Soccer Team Offered Asylum by President Trump

The dissonance between the president’s hard-line immigration policies and his offer of asylum to the athletes was striking. Australia took in five players.

CNN Changing Name to PNN: Propaganda News Network

San Francisco's Public Defenders Refuse to Take on New Cases, Could Face Contempt

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

The Moment Mass Migration Started

Before dawn on March 10, 2014, a group of roughly thirty migrants awoke in Tijuana, Mexico, packed their belongings, and ate one final meal before attempting to cross into the United States.

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.

Crabs, a Helicopter and One Town's Fight vs. ICE

Newport, on the quirky, impossibly beautiful Oregon coast finds itself a battleground in Trump's war on immigrants.

The Bride! Sounds Pretty Awful

GOP Rep. Ogles says Muslims ‘don’t belong in American society’

The Tennessee lawmaker’s post is part of a larger trend of House Republicans leaning on Islamophobic rhetoric.

Spain: US Relations 'Operating Normally' Amid Trump Threats

Relations between Spain and the United States are "operating normally" despite President Donald Trump's threats to cut trade with Madrid over its opposition to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, the Spanish foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Why Congress keeps handing Trump its power

Trump’s second presidency has accelerated the growth of executive power at the expense of the legislative branch, raising concerns about the balance of powers.

Can College Sports Be Saved?

James Piereson on the politicization of college sports.

Family demands far-left prosecutor be ousted from office after sister killed by repeat violent offender

The family of Ashton Minter is demanding Virginia prosecutor be voted out after suspected killer with 30 arrests was released from jail, leading to her fatal stabbing late last month.

USA Today: Trump's 'Friendly Takeover' of Cuba Closer Than Expected

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.

A Strike Against Beijing

Operation Epic Fury is not just about Iran.

Iran’s Risky Gamble

The war with Iran is reshaping the entire Middle East from the Gulf States to Lebanon with surprising speed.

Rand Paul to oversee confirmation hearing of Trump's DHS pick who once blasted him as a 'snake'

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who chairs the Homeland Security panel, have a chilly relationship, which could spill out during Mullin's confirmation hearing next week.

Price of Oil Has Dropped Like a Rock, Democrats Hardest Hit

Iran war, 11 days in: US controls skies, oil surges and the region braces for what’s next

U.S. officials say American and Israeli forces are gaining control of Iranian airspace after striking more than 5,000 targets in the first week of conflict.

What Can the Texas Primary Tell Us About Democrats?

Our reporter Elaine Godfrey on getting kicked out of a Jasmine Crockett rally

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…

Poll: Voters Uneasy on AI, Distrust Both Parties

Voters across the country are uneasy about artificial intelligence, with a new NBC News poll showing most believe the risks of AI outweigh the benefits — and few trust either political party to manage it well.

By November, Texas Democrats Will Wish That Jasmine Crockett Were Their Nominee for Senate

Collision with Reality

The Supreme Court has just invalidated Trump’s tariff agenda. But the economics were already doing that.

Hegseth: We Will Fight To the Finish – And Day 10 Will Blow You Away

Alma Allen Signs With Mega-Gallery After Venice Biennale Fallout

Alma Allen has joined Perrotin, months after two other galleries dropped him over his selection to represent the United States at the “art world Olympics.”

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.

How America's Oil and Gas Dominance Weakens Iran

The real threat was the climate agenda.

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.

Trump appoints Charlie Kirk's widow Erika to Air Force Academy Board of Visitors

President Donald Trump has tapped Erika Kirk, the widow of assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to serve on the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors.

Iran Deeply Divided Over Khamenei's Son as Successor

While pro-establishment crowds celebrate Khamenei's appointment as his father's successor, others believe it signals no change to how Iran is ruled.

Iran Conflict Will Have Complex Geoeconomic Legacy

Markets suggest the ramifications are likely to drag on and spread

Trump Appoints Erika Kirk to Air Force Academy Board

The widow of conservative leader Charlie Kirk has been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors, the oversight body that monitors the academy's morale, curriculum, and academic programs, NBC affiliate KOAA out of Colorado first …

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…

Charles Marino to Newsmax: US Must Stay Vigilant Against Iranian Sleeper Cells

Americans should remain alert to the possibility of Iranian sleeper cells operating inside the United States as security agencies confront an elevated threat environment, former Homeland Security senior adviser Charles Marino said during a Tuesday…

Melania at the Mic

The first lady’s surreal act of geopolitical theatre did little to explain how the ongoing US–Israeli military campaign against Iran’s brutal theocrats will make the world safer.

Voting machine company Smartmatic says DOJ is targeting it to bolster false 2020 claims

The company asked a judge to dismiss foreign bribery charges filed against it last year, alleging a vindictive and selective prosecution.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Trump’s War in Iran, and Rising Gas Prices, Collide With Midterm Agenda

The attack on Iran has led to a surge in energy prices at a moment when the cost of living is a major issue heading into the fall elections.

‘We Need to Do McCarthyism to the Tenth Power’

Conservative influencers are pushing for a return to the dark days of 1950s inquisitions.

U.S. orders more diplomats to leave Middle East

The State Department’s most recent directives apply to personnel in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by Iranian counterattacks.

Jackson-Kavanaugh tensions surface in candid exchange over Supreme Court 'shadow docket'

Justice Jackson lamented that the high court has taken up a high volume of emergency petitions during the Trump administration.

Erasing the Word “Woman”

The desexing of language in women’s health research and care is a story of the marginalisation of science, cultural imperialism, and abuse of power.

Where American support for Trump’s Iran strikes stand as new polls roll in

Most but not all of the latest national polls indicate majority opposition to the U.S. military strikes President Donald Trump ordered against Iran in Operation Epic Fury.

Double Deutsch Down on Dummkopf

Hegseth warns Russia as signs point to Moscow sharing intel with Iran

War Secretary Pete Hegseth warns Russia should stay out of Middle East conflict as reports emerge of Moscow allegedly providing intelligence to Iran.

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 Party Democrats Want and the Party Democrats Have

Progressive advocacy groups, ideological nonprofits, activist donors, and unions have enormous influence over candidate recruitment and policy priorities.

Report: US Used $5.6B in First 2 Days in War in Iran

In a report provided to U.S. congressional committees, President Donald Trump's administration said it used $5.6 billion in munitions during the first two days of strikes against Iran, a source familiar with the information said Tuesday.

The Impossible Predicament of the Uninsured

My aunt couldn’t afford to go to the hospital. She ended up there anyway.

Trump Is Expected to Endorse Cornyn

Republican strategists hope the endorsement will make the Texas Senate race less expensive and less competitive.

From ‘America First’ to ‘Always America Last’

Trump promised to stop wars. His grip on his base is being questioned now that he’s started one.

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…

Should Trump Worry About Iran Polling?

Monday, March 9th on RealClearPolitics - Joined by Jeffrey Gedmin, President of Middle East Broadcasting Networks:00:00 Trump's Approval

Trump Seeks to Calm Oil and Gas Markets but Says Iran War Will Go On

The president said the U.S. could accompany tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary to keep oil flowing. “We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough,” he said.

Letters to the Editor

Friday 27 February – Friday 6 March

Trump stirs GOP primary drama with visit to Massie’s Kentucky home turf

President Trump heads to Kentucky as he ramps up his feud with Rep. Thomas Massie, backing a primary challenger after the GOP lawmaker defied him on multiple issues.

Democrat rising star called out for ‘creepy’ comment about transgender children

One of the Democratic Party’s newest rising stars, James Talarico, is being mocked for a “creepy" comment he made about children who identify as transgender.

The shutdown that everyone has forgotten

The Washington Post’s essential guide to power and influence in D.C.

Pete Hegseth’s Moral Unseriousness

The defense secretary appears unable to approach matters of life and death with even the slightest bit of reverence or humility.

How Sanctuary Policies Led to Murder of Innocent Woman

Fairfax County's lenient policy for prosecuting illegal immigrants led to a suspect allegedly stabbing a woman to death after multiple releases from jail.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Voting Company Smartmatic Says It’s a Target of Vindictive Prosecution by Trump

The voting technology company’s new court filing signals how far-reaching the legal fights over elections will be in 2026.

Talarico's Challenging Road in Texas

Texas Democrats' promising Senate candidate must deliver on his theory of change.

D.C. Bar Begins Disciplinary Proceedings Against Ed Martin

A new legal filing accused Mr. Martin, a senior Justice Department official, of an unethical pressure campaign against Georgetown University.

Rep. Self to Newsmax: Islamic Takeover Concerns Not 'Hyperbole'

Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, warned Tuesday on Newsmax that Americans should be concerned about the spread of radical Islam in the United States, saying fears of an Islamic takeover are not "hyperbole."

What Does 'Regime Change' Look Like?

Trump's aim to eradicate the Iranian regime seems for now an unlikely scenario.

How's That Green Net Zero Grift Working Out for You, England?

Democrats argue Trump’s China policy risks ‘strategic failure’

A new report, issued ahead of the president’s summit with Xi Jinping, takes aim at the administration’s record on trade, diplomacy and other aspects of American power.

Iran war’s oil shock fuels GOP political anxiety

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday would be “our most intense day of strikes,” after President Trump sent conflicting messages about the administration’s plans.

Gas prices surge, pinching Americans and handing the GOP a new midterm headache

Trump vowed to keep oil flowing as the Iran conflict drove gas prices up 59 cents nationwide, creating new political pressure ahead of the midterm elections.

Sen. Cornyn Denies MAGA Pressure Over SAVE Act Filibuster

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is denying that pressure from the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement is behind his decision to endorse the talking filibuster to secure passage of the SAVE America Act.

Dumbest Story of the Day

Things Are About to Get Ugly in Texas

A runoff, resentments, and the question of whether a Democrat can win statewide

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.

Two Supreme Court Justices Debate Handling of Trump Emergency Cases

In a rare joint appearance, Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Brett M. Kavanaugh offered sharply different views on how the court should handle emergency requests.

DOJ Official Ed Martin Faces Legal Ethics Charges Over 'DEI' Letter

Justice Department official Ed Martin is facing legal disciplinary charges in Washington accusing him of leveraging his position to try to force Georgetown University's law school to halt its teaching of diversity, equity, and inclusion...

Sen. Ron Johnson Launches Probe Into FDA Denials of Rare Disease Treatments

Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson reportedly is launching an investigation into the Food and Drug Administration's recent denials of treatments for rare diseases.

Dan Schueftan on Gaza, Iran & the Future of Israel

Israel faces not a solvable conflict but a permanent condition—one requiring deterrence, “violent maintenance,” and historic patience—while confronting both regional enemies and a cultural battle in the West.

Average tax refund tops $3,700 midway through filing season, Treasury says

Millions claimed new tax breaks under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with more than 15.5 million taking overtime exemptions and 3.5 million excluding tips.

Trump Again Suggests Without Evidence That Iran Struck Elementary School

After a video showed a Tomahawk missile hitting a naval base next to the school, President Trump claimed Iran possesses such weapons. But the U.S. developed the missile and has sold it only to a few close allies.

Consumer advocates, Democrats denounce Live Nation deal as inadequate

Officials have alleged that Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment held an illegal monopoly over concerts and other live events.

The United Nations Is Going Broke

Too often, the UN’s valuable field work is overshadowed by cynical political posturing. As a result, collecting annual dues from member states has become more difficult.

‘America Doesn’t Want My Children or Grandchildren’

The Cruz family spent years building a life in New York. Then the risks of staying became too great.