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

Hegseth’s War on America’s Military

Someone needs to explain the Pentagon purges to the American people.

Reeling from war in the Middle East, Trump reaches for a reset

The president is in a precarious political moment seven months before the midterm elections, facing some of his lowest approval ratings and presiding over an unpopular war.

Donald Trump Is Nothing Like Robert Mueller

The absurdity of a man who avoided Vietnam due to “bone spurs” dancing on the grave of a decorated combat veteran

Searching for Structure

An autistic writer tries to make sense of his passion for trains, maps, and timetables.

Republicans Downplay States' Leadership Losses

Primary records and official announcements confirm more than a dozen Republican state legislative leaders have resigned or announced retirements during the past 14 months.

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 Intellectual Right Is Mad at the Mess It’s Made

Conservatives are criticizing influencers for going too far.

New Attorney General, Same Albatross: Trump’s Quest for Retribution

The name atop the Justice Department’s organizational chart matters less than the presence of a president whose demands for revenge have become so extreme that even his most obsequious appointees have fallen short.

Who's Ready For Flintstonistan?

Artemis--Huntress of New Frontiers

Artemis is what America should be doing. America once built its self-image on the frontier. It needs to do so again.

France Struck a Deal With Iran Over Strait of Hormuz? A Stab in the Back Again?

Germany Restricts Travel for Men 17-45, Requires Permission From Army to Leave Germany

Why the Iran War Negotiations Need the Gulf States

The countries most affected by the Iran War need a seat at the table to create a durable agreement.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Child of Chinese illegal immigrants charged with planting explosive at US military base

DHS revealed that a suspect who fled to China after allegedly planting a deadly explosive device at a military base is the child of two Chinese illegal immigrants.

The Manosphere Turns on Trump

How many times can a coalition crack before it shatters?

Trump issues order attempting to change rules for mail-in voting

The order calls for limiting mail ballots and using federal data to compile lists of eligible voters – moves experts say exceed his constitutional authority.

Trump Contemplates Other Cabinet Changes as He Faces Political Clock

With the midterms approaching, the president may be running out of time to get new cabinet members confirmed without bipartisan support.

Maybe Trump Should Not Have Given This Speech

His address raised more questions than it answered about the war in Iran.

Demand Justice Warns Trump Could Fill Two More SCOTUS Vacancies

Black Caucus scholarships discriminate based on race, lawsuit alleges

The lawsuit, filed by an anti-affirmative action group, is part of a broader movement to dismantle programs meant to remedy the effects of past discrimination.

Trump Administration Celebrates Good Friday in Official Messages

President Trump and administration officials have extended more pronounced overtures to Christians in public statements and executive orders.

'It Is Finished': Good Friday Reflection

Nebraska Senate candidate restructures campaign after complaint over payments to family: report

Dan Osborn is reportedly restructuring his Nebraska Senate campaign after a complaint alleged his operation improperly steered money to his wife and other relatives through PACs and consulting firms.

Dangerous Fantasy of Seizing Hormuz for 'Gusher' of Oil

Trump doesn't actually want the consequences that would follow from such an operation.

Strange Bedfellows

The hard Left has once again allied itself with Islamists in the belief that they will help achieve its goals, hence repeating the mistake the communists made in 1979, in revolutionary Iran.

What Exactly Is the Purpose of NATO in the Year 2026?

You Don't Own Me

Clean Green Has a Clean-Up Problem

No Good Way Out

Trump has options to end the war with Iran, but they all come with serious liabilities.

Justice Alito Was Taken to the Hospital Last Month in Undisclosed Incident

Supreme Court justices are not required to release information about their health, and the disclosure practices of individual justices have varied.

Friday's Final Word

Trump proposes $10B fund for D.C. construction, beautification projects

The planned Presidential Capital Stewardship Program would help renovate parks and infrastructure, as Trump works to remake a city he has derided as “dirty.”

Son of Republican megadonor throws hat in the ring for open at-large House seat in Wyoming

Steve Friess, Foster Friess' son, entered Wyoming's open House race this week, telling Fox News Digital that donor politics only go so far and that it's time to serve directly in elected office.

Six Senate Races to Watch as Democrats Grow Bullish Ahead of Midterm Elections

It’s still a tall task for the party to win back control. Here’s the latest.

Mike Rowe doubles down after blasting Kimmel’s ‘tone-deaf’ plumber jokes

Mike Rowe doubled down on his criticism of Jimmy Kimmel’s “tone deaf" monologues mocking new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin for being a former plumber.

Let's Kill Cancer

Podcast #331: The Ayatollahs’ Assassins

Iona Italia talks to Roya Hakakian about her book ‘Assassins of the Turquoise Palace’ and the past and present crimes of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iran Is Quickly Repairing Missile Bunkers, U.S. Intelligence Says

Reports cast doubt on how close the United States is to destroying Iran’s missile capability, a key goal in the war.

America Is Used to Hiding Its Wars. Trump Is Doing the Opposite.

The administration’s videos are possible only in a country that asks little from its people beyond their YouTube clicks.

Forget Trump, I'm Now Fully Invested Again

Why right now seems like the right time for me to move out of cash

Justice Alito ‘felt ill’ at March event, was examined by doctor, court says

Alito’s security detail recommended examination “out of an abundance of caution” before his three-hour drive home from Philadelphia, the Supreme Court said.

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.

What Australia Can Learn from Israel’s Assimilation Success

The Bondi massacre is a warning that Australia’s failure to demand integration from recent immigrants may be leading it down a dark path. Israel shows that multiculturalism can work, but only in a nation with a strong sense of identity.

Rep. Miller-Meeks to Newsmax: Bohannan 'Too Extreme' for Congress

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, described her likely Democrat opponent, Christina Bohannan, as "too extreme and radical to be in Congress" during a Friday appearance on Newsmax.

Rep. Moulton: Iran 'Winning The War' After US Jets Downed

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., said Friday that Iran is "winning the war" after Iranian air defenses shot down two U.S. military aircraft, including an F-15E fighter jet, over Iranian airspace.

Why Military Bases Should Never Have Been Gun-Free Zones

It may sound hard to believe, but except for a very limited group of personnel, the military has treated its bases as gun-free zones. Until Thursday, only designated security forces - such as military police - could carry firearms while on duty. C…

Us Democrats Must Take Ownership for Our Failures

Donald Trump has never come close to winning an election in California. But California has helped Donald Trump win two national elections.

Rubio Expelling Children of Iran's Leadership Who Have Been Living Here While Supporting Iran

Kristi Noem Is Gone. Now Mass Deportations Can Really Begin.

DHS has a new leader and a big pot of money to deliver on Trump’s campaign promise.

Someday in Tehran

The heartbreak of hoping for a democratic Iran

Alcatraz could reopen as a 'state-of-the-art secure prison' under Trump's $152M budget request

The White House is seeking $152 million to reopen Alcatraz, closed since 1963, as a state-of-the-art secure facility for federal inmates.

Apocalypse ’92

A new account of the 1992 siege at Ruby Ridge attempts to straighten out the record and place the story in a broader political and theological context.

Forget Euphemism, Trump Using Vicious Language vs. Iran

The Trump administration takes pleasure in deploying dysphemism to describe the killing of Iranians

Epstein victims demand meeting with King Charles in Washington

A state visit intended to mark 250 years of U.S. independence could become a test of the British monarchy’s willingness to confront one of its most difficult controversies.

Poll shows mixed signs for Democratic push to gain seats in Congress

A slight majority of Virginia voters supports giving Democrats a temporary edge in congressional maps, but opponents are more motivated, says a Post-Schar School poll.

Who's Replacing Bondi?

If your retirement portfolio is over $50,000, it may be time to think about diversifying into gold and silver.Markets are volatileInflation continues to erod...

RFK Jr. Deployed in Swing States as GOP Tests His Political Reach

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is preparing an aggressive midterm campaign schedule to boost Republican candidates, Politico reported on Saturday.

Not So Fast, Bill Maher

The comedian was set to receive the Twain Prize before a sudden reversal of course.

A Meat Plant Closed in Nebraska. Then Politics Became a Focus for These Latinos

Politically disconnected young men, especially Latinos, helped fuel President Trump’s victory, but in this economy, they could move to unconventional candidates like Dan Osborn in Nebraska.

California's Think-Alike Dems Cancel Debate Over 'Lack of Diversity'

House Democrat Wages a Lonely Legal Fight Testing Congress’s Power

Representative LaMonica McIver is facing crushing legal fees and prison time as she seeks to get the Justice Department assault case against her dismissed, citing her legislative prerogatives.

Final charge dropped in yearslong Harris-era case against pro-life activist

A California judge expunged the case against pro-life activist David Daleiden, ending a prosecution stretching years.

Trump gives rare praise to persistent GOP foe after White House ballroom vote

Trump gives a special shout out to Sen. Rand Paul after the fiscal hawk votes yes on plans for the estimated $400 million White House ballroom project.

Trump’s Purge May Be Just Beginning

After Pam Bondi’s ouster, other top administration officials could be in jeopardy.

Steve Yates to Newsmax: Downed Aircraft Doesn't Change Iran Mission

A U.S. fighter jet being shot down by Iran, the first of its kind in the current conflict, has triggered a high-risk rescue effort behind enemy lines, but former Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Yates said Saturday the incident does not al…

Patel, McCormick warn foreign terror threats inside US grew during Biden years

FBI Director Kash Patel said sleeper cell threats are "real" during a roundtable on fentanyl, border security and DHS funding hosted by Sen. David McCormick in Allentown.

Trump Pledged a Quick End to the Iran War, but He Hasn’t Explained How

President Trump bet that American firepower could cow Iran into compliance. So far, Iran’s leaders have been unwilling to quit.

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.

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.

Trump weighs more Cabinet changes, but wants to avoid ‘massive shake-up’

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer are vulnerable, officials said. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard appears more secure.

Two U.S. warplanes shot down; search ongoing in Iran for 1 missing crew member

An F-15 fighter jet and an A-10 attack plane were lost to hostile fire. Two search-and-rescue helicopters also were hit, injuring the crews, before safely returning to their base, officials said.

Trump again orders changes to ‘save’ college sports

The order would create new regulations around athlete compensation, transfers and other hot-button issues. It is expected to face legal challenges.

Understanding Mercy in the Trump Era

In ranking the most famous pardons of all time, with apologies to President Richard Nixon, I put one above all others: the one given to the Good Thief by Christ on the Cross.

Trump Warns Iran: '48 Hours Before All Hell Reigns Down'

President Donald Trump on Saturday warned on Truth Social that Iran it has 48 hours to reach a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, escalating pressure as tensions rise in the Middle East.

Ignore the Propaganda War

One theme that the propaganda press has wheeled out time and again is that Operation Epic Fury has no clear strategy or goal

Sorry, Pam Bondi. Trump Has No Loyalty

The attorney general's firing shows why even the most faithful MAGA acolytes are disposable

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…

Trump says ‘America needs God’ in Good Friday message touting ‘resurgence of religion'

In a Good Friday address, President Donald Trump claimed religion is growing again in the U.S. for the first time in decades as Holy Week and Easter are celebrated.

Todd Blanche takes on DOJ’s top job and the burden of Trump’s expectations

After Trump ousted Pam Bondi, her deputy is set to lead the department — and take on many of the same challenges.

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.

NY Times Issues Correction After Misnaming NATO in Headline

The New York Times published an incorrect headline Thursday referring to NATO as the "North American Treaty Organization," rather than its correct name, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Trump Directs Officials to Pay All D.H.S. Employees

The memorandum calls for paying employees at the Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency who have gone without pay during a record-long shutdown.

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.

Colorado lawyers say court e-file system now makes them certify they won’t assist ICE

Colorado reportedly requires lawyers to certify they won't assist ICE as a condition for accessing the state's court e-filing system, sparking outrage.

Trump’s Cozy Transportation Secretary

Sean Duffy is partnering with the industries he regulates in new ways.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

The Disgrace of Tariq Ramadan

The Islamist grandson of Hasan al-Banna convinced many Western liberals that he was a moderate because he promised to bridge a divide many feared could not be crossed.

Trump Budget Targets Gun Rules, Protects Rights

President Donald Trump's fiscal 2027 budget proposal says it is designed to affirm his "commitment to definitively protect the Second Amendment and other constitutional rights of citizens."

Trump Admin Asks Court to Pause Ballroom Construction Ruling

The Trump administration is arguing that a judge's order to halt construction of a $400 million ballroom creates a security risk for President Donald Trump as it asks a federal appeals court to pause the ruling.

Doomscrolling into Adulthood

Reflections on the crisis of meaning afflicting not only Gen Z but all of us who are too online.

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…

Francesca Albanese and the Perversion of Academia

Three Flemish universities are about to convey the sanction of university-recognised expertise to a deeply dishonest and fraudulent individual.

Trump unveils $1.5T defense surge, deep domestic cuts — what’s on the budget chopping block

The White House proposes a fiscal year 2027 budget with roughly $1.5 trillion in defense spending and sweeping cuts to key domestic programs.

ICE arrests relatives of slain Iranian general Soleimani living in US after Rubio revokes their green cards

Relatives of slain Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani were arrested by ICE after Secretary of State Rubio revoked their U.S. legal status, officials said.

Rescue Choppers Hit by Iran Fire as F-15E Crew Member Remains Missing

Two U.S. military helicopters, including a U.S. Air Force UH‑60 Black Hawk and a second search‑and‑rescue aircraft, were struck by Iranian fire on Friday while attempting to recover a downed F‑15E pilot but escaped destruction, a source familiar w…

Love and Theft

Luc Besson’s romantic adaptation of the Dracula story owes an unacknowledged debt to Eiko Ishioka, the visionary designer of Francis Cord Coppola’s 1992 classic.

Trump Goes After Programs He Calls ‘Woke’ in Budget Proposal

The president’s request for 2027 reflects his preoccupation with eliminating programs that support diversity and civil rights.

AI Is Not About To Become Sentient

Most of today’s “artificial intelligence” is better described as artificial autocomplete than artificial mind.

Trump requests record-breaking budget of $1.5 trillion for Pentagon

The budget proposes a 44 percent increase in defense spending, and Trump’s request comes as Congress grapples with the ballooning costs of the war in Iran.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

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.

WashPost Poll: Slim Majority Support Virginia Redistricting

A new Washington Post poll shows voters in Virginia remain split on whether to redraw the state's congressional maps and potentially give Democrats four extra seats in Congress.

The Tragicomic Death Throes of Canada’s (Former) Workers’ Party

The New Democratic Party, which once championed the country’s unions, is now in the hands of a radicalised anti-Israel activist who wants to nationalise grocery sales and shut down oil production.

Public Anger Is Rising

Even TMZ is channeling the national discontent.

The Axis of Renewal

Israel and the United States have already done much to dismantle the Axis of Resistance, but the broader network supported by Iran remains most active in Western Europe.

Senators Question US Visit by Sanctioned Russian Delegation

Two senior U.S. senators are raising national security concerns over a recent visit to the United States by a delegation of sanctioned Russian lawmakers, questioning why the group was allowed entry and what access they may have had to sensitive in…

Is Deportation Compassionate?

True compassion doesn't stop at borders; it strengthens nations by rewarding legal immigration, enforcing the law, and exporting the ideas that made America prosper.