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 Stable States of Our Politics

‘Only 25 states had voted for the same party in the 1976 and 2000 elections.’

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 Fights on the Right: The New Issue of NR Is Out

Ramesh Ponnuru on where ‘freedom conservatives’ and ‘national conservatives’ can, and can’t, find common ground. Plus, a rare treat: new fiction by Cynthia Ozick.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Three Cheers for Elon Musk — and America

You can count me out of the envy and resentment.

Trump's name to be removed from Kennedy Center as appeals court denies board's request for administrative stay

The Kennedy Center board filed an emergency appeal to block a judge's order requiring Trump's name to be removed from the building's signage and materials.

Will Trump’s Nomination of Clayton Obviate the Pulte Problem at ODNI?

Statutory foreign-intelligence-collection authority will lapse at midnight, but there’s the makings of a deal to get it reauthorized quickly.

Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle Has No Sense of Decorum

What happened to ‘professional attire’?

California Dems accused of putting sanctuary law over migrant child welfare checks: 'Real children'

El Cajon sues California AG Rob Bonta, claiming sanctuary laws prevent local police from checking on unaccompanied migrant children's safety.

No, the Pope Isn’t a Pacifist

Some context on Magnifica Humanitas.

How To Get a Labor Rights Bill Through GOP House

In Oscar Wilde's 1895 comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, the epigram-spouting Lady Bracknell is told by Jack Worthing, her daughter's suitor, that he's lost both his parents. To this, the lady replies imperiously: "To lose one parent, Mr. Wor…

WATCH: House Dems blame racism, 'all-White' jury for Karmelo Anthony's guilty verdict

House Democrats claim the Karmelo Anthony guilty verdict highlights racism in the criminal justice system, citing concerns about jury selection and race.

BREAKING: Trump Channels Inner Tom Clancy, Takes Out TdA Head in Airstrike

Pratt concedes LA mayor race with scathing video teasing next move, bombshell info he holds: 'Commie animals'

Spencer Pratt claims he has a recording that could force a Los Angeles mayoral candidate to resign, teasing a "Phase III" plan after finishing third.

Mellon Foundation Funding a Fight Against Civics Schools

Meeting minutes show the American Association of University Professors is trying to undermine civic leadership schools.

The Data a Flemish TV Network Didn't Want You to See

How I read a confidential memo on live television—and what it reveals about ideological bias.

Graham Platner’s Sexts and the Stasi Media

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Spencer Pratt Unleashed: Of Course You Realize, THIS MEANS WAR

Talarico touts Texas roots as out-of-state cash powers Senate campaign

About 50% of Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico's fundraising came from out-of-state donors, according to campaign finance records.

A Way Out of Iran

The current regime in Iran cannot be trusted and will never agree to a deal that would meet the criteria Trump himself has established.

"They Hate Australia": The Activists Behind the Gaza Flotilla and the Radical Left's Antizionist Turn | Quillette Cetera Ep. 65

Hava Mendelle — army veteran, nurse, and co-founder of Minority Impact — speaks with Zoe Sankey about antisemitism in Australia, the red-green alliance, October 7th, and why she left the activist left behind.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

With a Deal Seemingly Close, the U.S. Faces an Iran More Willing to Withstand Pressure

Iran’s new, more militaristic leaders have already survived the worst that America and Israel can deliver, and seem readier to take risks.

SpaceX Is About Taking the Fiction Out of Science Fiction

Elon Musk delivers remarks ahead of the SpaceX IPO debut on Friday. Musk focused on how unlikely SpaceX's success seemed, the goal of making humanity multi-planetary, and inspiring people.

Trump’s Haphazard Midterm Leadership Puts Republicans in a Bind

The president and his party have had a rough start to June, after a spring full of MAGA primary victories and redistricting gains.

Trump Kills Alleged Leader of Tren de Aragua

There is no obvious justification in American law for the use of lethal military force against an indicted drug trafficker.

You'll Never Guess What Passes for Ethnic Studies Education in San Francisco

U.S., Iran Edge Toward Interim Deal Signing?

The US and Iran may sign an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on the sidelines of the Group of Seven world leaders summit next week, according to senior officials.

EXCLUSIVE: Collins pits record built in Maine potato fields against Platner's 'angry rhetoric'

Sen. Susan Collins faces a tight re-election battle against scandal-plagued Democratic nominee Graham Platner as Schumer targets her Maine Senate seat.

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.

Friday's Final Word

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.

Can Republicans Save the House Majority?

Friday, June 12th on RealClearPolitics - Joined by RCP Senior Elections Analyst Sean Trende and Josh Kraushaar, Editor-in-Chief of Jewish Insider: 00:00 Sett...

Here to 'Help'

Obama judge rules on effort to block America 250 events at WH and Lincoln Memorial

Federal judge denies emergency request to block UFC Freedom 250 at the White House and Lincoln Memorial, ruling plaintiffs lacked legal standing.

Two Dan Sullivans? Alaska Republicans Suggest Kicking One Off the Ballot in Senate Race

The lieutenant governor and the top elections official, both Republicans, are investigating whether the challenger coordinated with a Democrat to confuse voters.

Why the Enlightenment Matters

Iona Italia talks to lawyer and historian Adam Wakeling about the enduring importance of Enlightenment values and how to defend them today.

Trump Is Losing Ground With White Working-Class Voters on the Economy

A review of polling data shows an extraordinary swing among white working-class voters on the president’s handling of the economy.

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…

Sen. Cornyn's Strange Exit Interview With the NY Times

John Cornyn ran to the far-left New York Times, pledging to use his newfound freedom to undermine President Trump.

Trump's Critics Dead Wrong (Again) on the Economy

Colbert and Cancellation

The #CancelColbert saga in 2014 established the paradigm for countless hashtag controversies that followed.

Clinton judge indefinitely blocks Trump's $1.776B anti-weaponization fund

A federal judge indefinitely blocked the Trump administration's $1.76 billion anti-weaponization fund, citing concerns it could be revived.

Platner's 'deranged' response to Musk becoming a trillionaire sparks online outrage: 'Loserthink'

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces conservative backlash after posting about Elon Musk becoming the world's first trillionaire.

Therapy Is Looking More Like Re-Education

Everyday struggles become studies in power, privilege and oppression until patients stop coming.

Judge Dismisses Republican Group’s Case Against the University of Florida

A campus group the university banned after accusations of antisemitic behavior failed to prove it had its First Amendment rights violated, the court ruled.

Judge Blocks National Parks From Removing ‘Negative’ Signs and Depictions of Slavery

The ruling accused the Trump administration of engaging in censorship by taking down materials at parks across the country.

Los Angeles Times: Accusations of Voter Fraud 'Unfounded,' Yet They...Found It

Selective Pressure, Selective Silence

David Reich and the politics of recent human evolution.

Prosecutors in His Case Have Spent More Time on Trial than Tyler Robinson

Knives Are Out for EU's 'Diplomatic Service'

Graham Platner Is an Insult to the Working Class

Platner ‘is not what you’re intrinsically like if you’re working class. It’s not what you’re intrinsically like if you’re a veteran or if you saw action in combat.’

The Destructivists

When the appetite for moral reform becomes an appetite for destruction.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Antifragility in Ukraine

Noah Rothman Is Wrong About Everything . . .

Talking to Noah about his sesquipedalianism, left-wing violence, using his book as a refutational reference, and if he’s Ben Shapiro’s older brother.

'Total Bulls**t": The Left Has Plans for Seizing and Spending Elon Musk's Money

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…

WH South Lawn Adds UFC Arena to Its Colorful History

Towering above the White House, the 92-foot tall "Claw" hovering above the fight ring is taller than the actual executive mansion. Scaffolding under the mixed martial arts arena holds up roughly 4,000 seats. The octagon itself is bedecked with ads…

Gavin Newsom and Hunter Biden Would Like Your Attention, Please

The two men chatted on Mr. Newsom’s podcast about Democrats, Joe Biden, Graham Platner, phone addiction and other topics.

Britain’s Immigration Numbers

To say that that many Britons are unhappy with the scale of immigration into their country is an understatement.

U.S. Funded Biolabs in Over 30 Countries, Including Ukraine

Outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Friday revealed there are more than 120 taxpayer-funded biolabs located in 30 countries, and the Biden administration "threatened" people who attempted to expose their existence. Gabbard …

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.

Liberals Without Teeth

British liberals exclude reactionary cranks like Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur because they don’t have the stomach for a fight.

Economy Is Propped Up by Government Spending

In today's edition, we highlight an underdiscussed reason why damage from the war hasn't eaten the U.S. economy: fiscal stimulus.

SpaceX's IPO Is a Display of Musk's Dominance

His unrivalled grip on the public imagination has transmuted into Wall Street gold

Democrats have a one-word defense for supporting Graham Platner: Trump

Platner’s backers in Maine say with Trump in office and Senate control on the line, the bar is low and the stakes are high: “Purity politics don’t get us anywhere.”

'You failed your son first': Howard prof blames father's values after Karmelo Anthony murdered his son

Howard University professor Dr. Stacey Patton blames Austin Metcalf's father for his son's death, alleging his parenting failed to teach boundaries.

Claire's Weekly Letter: Spirals of Silence

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.

Partisan Sectional Polarization and the Civil War

The disintegration of both the Democrats and the Whigs as national parties was both a sign and a cause of the rupture that brought on the Civil War.

An Electoral Reckoning at Last?

Benjamin Netanyahu’s unprecedented tenure as Israeli prime minister may be about to end.

A Baseless Attack on Friedrich Hayek’s Intellectual Legacy

Author Quinn Slobodian has won acclaim for his attempt to link the famed Austrian economist to right-wing extremists. But his arguments collapse under scrutiny.

Tren de Aragua Leader Killed, Strike 'Coordinated' w/Venezuela

One of the top leaders of Tren de Aragua, a cartel and US-designated terrorist organization, has been killed in a US military strike, President Donald Trump said Friday.

Federal Agents Search Voting Rights Group in Ohio

It was not immediately clear what the investigators were looking for, but a board member with a progressive group said members had been served with search warrants.

Pathology and Politics

British author Josh Ireland’s new book about the murder of Leon Trotsky tells the gripping story of a rivalry between two very different men.

Judge Declines to Halt UFC Fight at the White House on Trump’s Birthday

In a ruling on Friday, Judge Amit P. Mehta wrote that the lawsuit arrived last minute and failed to show how the event irreversibly harmed the individuals who sued.

Trump says US military eliminated 'infamous' Tren de Aragua leader in lethal strike

President Donald Trump announced a U.S. military strike that killed Tren de Aragua leader Niño Guerrero, calling it retribution for victims of violent crime.

Hilarious, Sorta: al-Shabaab Praises Somali Referee Who US Kicked Out, Calls for Jihad

Trump Administration Says It Will Restart Asylum and Immigration Processing

The response came after a federal judge rebuked officials for failing to immediately comply with the order he issued last week.

Trump trades NBA boos for UFC cheers as sports become dividing line

Once a refuge from political division, major sports have become a partisan arena in the Trump era.

Hasan Piker celebrates America being 'closer than ever' to socialism as he backs NYC candidates

Twitch streamer Hasan Piker rallied for socialist candidates Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier ahead of New York's June 23 primary.

How Sergio Gor Is Transforming the Role of U.S. Ambassador in the Trump Era

From his post in New Delhi, Mr. Gor has become a force in U.S. foreign policy, chasing business deals and stunning diplomats by reversing a long-planned embassy building project.

Independent Cascadia? Greater Idaho? Disunited States Look Toward Divorce

At a moment when even the prospects of dialogue seem far-fetched, movements to redraw state lines to link like-minded regions, or even to secede from the union, are gaining strength.