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

Muslim Southerners Face a Fresh Wave of Hateful Political Rhetoric

Some Muslim voters were once drawn to Republican positions on family values and individual liberty, but as Southern politicians stoke anti-Islamic sentiment, many feel threatened.

GOP Senate hopeful Michele Tafoya accuses Walz, Ellison of ignoring Minnesota fraud scheme

GOP Senate candidate Michele Tafoya targets Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison over an alleged $9 billion fraud scandal in her Minnesota Senate bid.

California’s Blue Armageddon

One of the most liberal states in the country can’t find a Democrat to lead it.

The Battle for the Strait

After the failure of ceasefire talks in Islamabad, the United States remains at war with Iran and Trump’s priority is to liberate the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping.

What Did You Think Decolonisation Meant?

Decolonisation theory operates as a rigid, Manichaean ideology that neatly divides the world into evil perpetrators and innocent victims.

The Professor and the Pariah

How a brilliant mind fell for bad history and worse people.

The Tragedy of Murdered Indigenous Women is Real. So How Did Activists Turn It Into a Punch Line?

Leah Gazan’s use of the absurd term ‘MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+’ to describe female Indigenous homicide victims is a case study in progressive linguistic self-sabotage.

Dems Closer Than You Think To Upending Electoral College

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact going into effect is suddenly plausible.

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.

The Truth About Rising Measles Cases - From a Physician

Dr. Cory Franklin is not anti-vax, but he thinks health bureaucracies owe Americans (and Canadians) the truth about who is really getting sick. I agree.

Viktor Orbán Could Actually Lose

The Hungarian leader faces an energized opposition—and questions about whether he would accept defeat.

Dems Eye Governor's Race Upset in GOP-Leaning Iowa

An open governor's seat in deep-red Iowa is drawing increased scrutiny as Democrats look to test GOP dominance in a state that has shifted decisively to the right.

Syrian Billionaires Needed a Favor in Washington. They Invoked the Trump Name.

The attempt by the Khayyats to influence foreign policy while discussions are underway about potential Trump family deals is an increasingly common feature of the president’s second term.

Dems Push Bondi Contempt Over Epstein Files No-Show

House Democrats on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee want to hold former Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt for skipping an April 14 deposition regarding her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, but many Republicans are not on bo…

After Supreme Court blow, Trump admin launches $166B tariff refund portal

The Trump administration launched a new system to refund $166 billion in tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down the levies as unlawful this year.

FBI Director Kash Patel Sues The Atlantic Claiming False Reporting About Drinking, Absences

FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation lawsuit against the Atlantic and its reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick following the publication of an article on Friday alleging the director had a drinking problem that could pose a threat to national security.

What I Learned About Billionaires at Jeff Bezos’s Private Retreat

For the richest men on Earth, everything is free and nothing matters.

French Presidential Poof de Crème Now Snubbing Polish President at Joint Summit

Democrat in key race defended guns after mass shooting and insulted Kaepernick

Bob Brooks, a firefighter who appeals to the White working class, engaged with right-wing content. His endorsers in the Pennsylvania House race stand by him.

What a candidate’s old Facebook posts tell us about this moment for Democrats

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

The President Is Coming to the White House Correspondent’s Dinner

A president who relishes attacking the news media is set to break his boycott of an event celebrating the news media. What could go wrong?

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.

The Worst Supreme Court Justice Ever

His attack on progressivism last week was the last straw

Hasan Piker Is the Enemy

If liberals wish to forge an alliance of convenience with a socialist and apologist for jihadist violence, they will be betraying the very values they profess to uphold.

As Starmer Talks About Expanding Military, Professional Soldiers Bailing Out

‘All the President’s Men’ at 50: Times Journalists Look Back

New York Times staff members shared why they regard the 1976 film as one of the best movies about their profession.

Connecting On the Journey of Faith: Sunday Reflection

NRCC reporting record $47.1 million quarter, record $28.1 million raised in March

Republicans report a record $47.1 million first quarter haul, with the NRCC saying it outraised Democrats for five straight quarters before midterms.

Move 37 and the Coming Mindhack

What happens when human manipulation arrives at its Claude Mythos moment?

Harry Keyishian, Lead Plaintiff in Academic Freedom Case, Dies at 93

He was one of five University of Buffalo faculty members fired for not signing loyalty oaths. In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor.

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…

Justices to Hear Case on Catholic Preschools That Reject Children of Gay Parents

Catholic preschools in Colorado that decline to enroll families with L.G.B.T.Q. children or parents sued to participate in a state-funded program.

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 UN’s Historically Selective Denunciation of Human Bondage

The transatlantic slave trade was a monstrous crime against humanity. Yet it represented just one example of an ancient evil that spanned many civilisations.

Trump to PBS: Iran Must Sign or 'Lots of Bombs' Will Drop

President Donald Trump on Monday said expiration of the ceasefire with Iran will mean "lots of bombs start going off." In a phone interview with PBS News, Trump made clear that the U.S. is prepared to escalate if Tehran fails to come to terms on i…

Hungary Just Ousted the Unoustable

Viktor Orbán had support from Moscow and Washington, but not from his own people.

Trump Corrects Energy Chief, Insists Gas Prices Will Fall Quicker

President Donald Trump on Monday rejected his energy secretary's projection a day earlier that U.S. gas prices may not fall below $3 per gallon until next year, arguing instead that prices will drop sooner if the conflict with Iran is resolved.

The Final Frontier

Like the old Wild West, the Moon offers the prospect of resources to exploit and land to settle. Artemis II's successful mission is just the beginning.

The Conciliator

Why did Gretchen Whitmer go soft on Trump?

The Implosion of Eric Swalwell: What Was He Thinking?

Democrats Eye a Broader Battlefield to Capture Congress in November

Weighed down by President Trump’s approval ratings, some Republican incumbents are struggling to raise money while Democrats look for targets like a Tennessee seat south of Nashville.

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 Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Lawmakers demand answers as scientists tied to US secrets die or vanish

House Republicans press FBI, Department of Energy, NASA and Pentagon for answers after reports of vanished individuals linked to sensitive nuclear and aerospace programs.

It’s Not Just Iran. Trump Is Flailing on Multiple Fronts.

The president is on a losing streak, and even some of his aides are dismayed by his choices.

It's No Mystery, Spanberger Lied About Everything

She was, after all, trained to lie by the CIA.

The Wrong Man

In Iran, Donald Trump is showing us what a populist war looks like.

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 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.

How Big Pharma (Successfully) Targeted Women

Two waves of addiction were prescribed by doctors and egged on by pharmaceutical marketing - orchestrated by the Sackler family - that insisted it was safe and a great idea.

DOJ demands 865K Detroit ballots, threatening possible legal action

Michigan and the Trump DOJ clash over a demand for 865,000 ballots from Wayne County, with state officials calling the request baseless and political.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

The FBI Director Is MIA

Kash Patel has alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences.

Hey Tucker: Christianity and Islam Have a Long and Very Bitter History

The Problem With Hasan Piker’s Einstein Story

People scrutinizing influencers for their views should also hold them to account for their facts.

Don't Kid Yourself - No Easy Iran Fix

Trump's war with Iran is not popular - and that's no surprise. Critics of the war are correct about one very important thing: It is messy.The Strait of Hormuz remains dangerous. Oil markets are volatile. The risk of escalation has not disappeared.…

US military announces another deadly strike against 'narco-terrorists'

The United States struck a vessel that was participating in "narco-trafficking operations," killing three men in the attack, according to SOUTHCOM.

Trump orders more access to psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin and ibogaine

The president is directing federal agencies to boost research into the drugs and support clinical trials, moves championed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Spain Has Become Ground Zero for the #Resistance

U.S. Military Strikes a Boat in the Caribbean, Killing 3

The latest attack raised the death toll to at least 180 in the campaign by the United States against people it accuses of smuggling drugs at sea.

All the Worst People Are Defending Hezbollah

Supreme Court Rejects Massachusetts School Trans Policy Challenge

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a bid by parents to sue a public school district in Massachusetts over actions by teachers and officials to support the gender identity of students by not disclosing name or pronoun changes to parents …

Infinite Ingenuity: Andy Weir’s Optimistic Vision in ‘Project Hail Mary’

The new film 'Project Hail Mary' based on Andy Weir's bestselling novel, celebrates scientific problem-solving on a cosmic scale. There are striking parallels with David Deutsch's radical optimism.

Vance Heads to New Talks With Iran. At Stake: Peace and His Own Standing.

The vice president is again center stage, after abruptly leaving the first round of high-level Iranian peace talks without an agreement.

Saturday's Final Word (Update)

Too Fun to Check: Did Thunberg's Navy Turn Into the Love Boats?

DOJ demands Detroit-area 2024 ballots, escalating election scrutiny

DOJ official Harmeet K. Dhillon wrote that she is seeking ballots to investigate election law compliance. Democratic state officials call the request baseless.

The Iran War: An Explainer

A selection of essays and interviews in Quillette examining how and why Iran and the West are at war, and what is likely to happen next.

Hegseth in Feud With Army Secretary

A simmering rift between War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll spilled into public view this week after Driscoll openly praised the Army's former top general, Randy George, whose abrupt dismissal has drawn scrutiny...

Rep. McGuire to Newsmax: Virginia Map Fight 'Unconstitutional Power Grab'

Rep. John McGuire, R-Va., warned Monday on Newsmax's "Wake Up America" that Democrats' push to redraw Virginia's congressional map amounts to an "illegal, unconstitutional power grab" that would fundamentally alter representation in the commonwealth.

The New York Times Is Wrong About the Birth Rate

The Times says a boom of older mothers is coming to reverse low fertility, but the math is against them.

Melania Trump to Attend Correspondents' Dinner

First lady Melania Trump will attend this Saturday's White House Correspondents' Association dinner, The Hill reported on Monday.

With Trump Novices, Can the U.S. Win the ‘Art Olympics’?

After the State Department overhauled the process for choosing an artist for the Venice Biennale, it gave control to a woman who previously owned a pet food store.

Iran's Last Chance To Avoid Finding Out What's Behind Door Number B-2

Trump officials push Theodore Roosevelt for Pro Football Hall of Fame

“I think we’re going to see Theodore Roosevelt inducted,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said at an event on Thursday.

Trump: Israel Didn't Talk Me Into War With Iran

President ​Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday that Israel did not convince him to attack Iran, despite claims by critics."Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN…

How Virginia Dems Drew a Map To All But Lock Out the GOP

The plan dramatically reworks entire sections of the state, slicing up deep blue districts in the Washington, DC, suburbs and around Richmond, and creates a new district running along the Blue Ridge Mountains that connects liberal cities.

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.

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.

Supreme Court to hear Catholic parish's challenge after Colorado barred schools from universal pre-K program

The Supreme Court agreed to hear a Catholic parish's case after Colorado barred its school from a state program funding families' preschool choices.

GOP Has a Massive MAHA Opportunity in 2026

The MAHA movement gives Republicans a chance to win suburban moms in 2026 midterms by focusing on food quality, screen time and health transparency.

Left-wing activists heckle pro-Israel Democrat Haley Stevens at Michigan convention

Rep. Haley Stevens was booed by pro-Palestinian activists during a speech at Michigan Democrats' spring convention amid a heated Senate primary battle.

Supreme Court justices turn children’s books into big paydays

The trend is fueled by their status as political celebrities in a deeply divided country.

KitKat, Gatorade or granola bars? What’s banned under new SNAP rules is mixed.

Many GOP states are enacting soda and candy bans for food stamp purchases amid MAHA’s healthy food efforts. Some retailers and SNAP users find the new rules complicated.

J.D. Vance's Approval Turns Red, Can He Reverse It By 2028?

Despite drop, vice president's favorability remains rock-solid with base GOP voters.

Jared Kushner’s Mysterious Role in the Trump Administration

Is the president’s son-in-law carrying out the public’s business or pursuing his own private interests?

Uncertainty reigns at DOJ in the aftermath of Bondi’s departure

Acting attorney general Todd Blanche has moved quickly to put his stamp on the department, but other Trump loyalists also appear to be vying for leading roles.

Kash Patel Sues The Atlantic for $250 Million Over Article Claiming Excessive Drinking

Mr. Patel sued the publication for defamation, asking for $250 million in damages. A spokeswoman for The Atlantic called the suit “meritless.”

Trump Voters Are Over It

A shocking number of the president’s supporters have turned against him.

Sunday Smiles

Iran War's Lessons for a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

Key Points and Summary: Hoover Institution Fellow Eyck Freymann, who also serves as a Non-Resident Research Fellow at the U.S. Naval War College's China Maritime Studies Institute, has published a new book titled Defending Taiwan warning that the …

Trump pushes back against pundits, says Israel did not talk him into the Iran war

U.S. President Donald Trump slapped down the notion that Israel pushed him into waging the Iran war, asserting that the outcome "in Iran will be amazing"

Lutheran minister and House candidate under fire after recounting her part in satanist couple's wedding

Democratic candidate Sarah Trone Garriott faced criticism after a resurfaced video showed her recounting a role in a satanist couple's church wedding.

An Oligarchy of Old People

How elderly Americans amassed disproportionate wealth and power

Liberal Justices Ignored Death Threats Against Colleagues

Liberal justices stalled the release of the Dobbs ruling for weeks, putting the justices' lives at increased risk, a new report reveals.

Little Kids, Big Government

Canada's prime minister refers to US economic ties as a weakness

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada's "strengths" from its tight relationship with the United States have become "weaknesses."

History Is Running Backwards

Why reactionaries are taking over the world

Eric Holder accuses GOP of 'stealing seats' while defending 'fair' Democratic redistricting push

Former AG Eric Holder defends Democrats' Virginia redistricting push, accusing GOP of stealing seats in Texas and Missouri ahead of Tuesday's vote.

Sen. Warner's Daughter Dies After Long Health Battle

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., is mourning the loss of his daughter, Madison, 36, who passed away following a decades-long health battle, ABC affiliate WJLA reported on Monday.

Trump’s fixation on White House ballroom is increasing, Post analysis finds

The president has publicly highlighted his ballroom project on roughly a third of the days this year.

Why a Democratic Senate, Once Unthinkable, Is a Real Possibility

Helped by a favorable national environment and strong candidate recruitment, Democrats are tied or ahead in four Republican-held seats, polls show.

Rep. Sheri Biggs to Newsmax: US Must 'Force' Iran to Halt Nuclear Threat

Iran cannot be trusted, and the U.S. is "going to have to force their hand," Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C., told Newsmax on Monday.

Postliberalism After Hungary

Orbán’s defeat should scare the hell out of populist authoritarians.

CNN Political Briefing

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