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

Trump pulls endorsement from GOP lawmaker over alleged lack of support for administration's tariff agenda

Trump pulled his endorsement of Rep. Jeff Hurd after the Colorado Republican cited Congress’ constitutional authority over trade policy amid a tariff dispute.

Trump Calls on Netflix to Oust Susan Rice From Its Board

The president made the attack as Netflix and Paramount Skydance face a key deadline in a bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery.

OpenAI Suspected that Trans Shooter Was Planning an Attack

Why keeping lawmakers in DC during shutdown may have caused more harm than good

Congress left Washington without resolving DHS funding crisis because no deal was close, avoiding potential mayhem from keeping lawmakers idle during shutdown.

Brits Spied on Me

British Labour Party operatives who put Prime Minister Keir Starmer in power hired APCO PR firm to investigate me and other journalists probing political corruption.

‘The Trust Has Been Absolutely Destroyed’

Some state election officials say they no longer trust their federal partners.

More Lawmakers Quit Congress Ahead of 2026 Midterms

With the 2026 midterm elections nearing, a surge of House and Senate departures is setting up a large slate of open-seat races, raising the stakes for control of Congress and amplifying members' complaints about gridlock, intraparty conflict, and …

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.

Trump Lives Up to His Promise to East Palestine

In a Washington Examiner exclusive, Salena Zito speaks with the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio, a village devastated by a train derailment three years ago.

Mexico Erupts in Violence as Cartels Rampage; Everyone Told to Shelter in Place

Film Director to Newsmax: Lieberman Doc Shows Rare Political Openness

A new documentary, "Centered: Joe Lieberman," premiering Sunday on Newsmax, revisits the life and legacy of the late Sen. Joe Lieberman, with director Jonathan Gruber saying the film highlights a style of leadership rooted in candor and bipartisan…

Silence on Sudan

In Sudan, a civil war involving Arab supremacists backed by the UAE has left as many as 400,000 dead and displaced twelve million. The silence on campus is deafening.

Iran Students Resume Anti-Government Protests

The student protesters honoured thousands of those killed when nationwide mass protests were put down last month.

Terror and Transformation

Southeast Asia in World War II, Part Two: The Japanese Occupation and Its Repercussions

Divide Among Supreme Court’s Conservatives Could Test Trump’s Agenda

In rejecting President Trump’s tariffs, the court’s six conservative justices displayed subtle differences in their views of executive power.

The Buzz in Kristi Noem’s Home State

South Dakota Republicans worry that she might return.

The Second Death of Charlie Kirk

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

Saturday's Final Word

Newsom weighs in on social media age restrictions, citing experience as a parent: ‘We need help’

California Gov. Gavin Newsom backs social media age limits, supporting legislation to restrict platform access for teens in bipartisan state bill.

The Price of the Epstein Frenzy

Press-led hysteria and institutional cowardice are inflicting needless damage on higher education.

ICE After Minneapolis

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

SCOTUS Has Ruled on Tariffs, But Who Will Ultimately Pay?

Friday's blockbuster ruling on tariffs was hardly welcomed by the Trump administration, but it was also widely expected. The Supreme Court clearly established in its 6-3 decision that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not afford…

The End of the Middlebrow Movie

Middlebrow movies weren’t just two-hour escape pods, they functioned as a civic glue, a source of shared language, cross-generational references, and indeed, contemporary American myth.

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.

Fmr Secret Service Agent to Newsmax: FBI Leads Mar-a-Lago Probe

The FBI will take over the investigation into the fatal shooting of an armed man who breached President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property because the agency probes assaults on those under Secret Service protection, former agent Jeffrey Gaines tol…

‘Not American Enough’

Trump’s immigration crackdown has Latinos wondering if they belong in his America.

Charles Marino to Newsmax: Layered Security Worked at Mar-a-Lago

Former Secret Service agent Charles Marino said the shooting of an armed man at Mar-a-Lago early Sunday shows the agency's layered security plan worked as designed.

Ron Kessler to Newsmax: Mar-a-Lago Shooting a 'Success Story'

A man shot by Secret Service agents after breaching a security perimeter near Mar-a-Lago never made it inside the property, and the response should be viewed as a "success story," author Ron Kessler said Wednesday on Newsmax's"Wake Up America."

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 Left's Elastic Principles on Judicial Authority

Democrats cheer or jeer the Court as convenience dictates; their lone consistency is power-pursued relentlessly, defended fiercely, and projected onto opponents.

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

Josh Shapiro to neighbors: Get off my lawn

The Pennsylvania governor and Democratic star is embroiled in a dispute with his neighbor that has escalated into an unlikely political saga.

Armed man shot and killed inside Mar-a-Lago perimeter, Secret Service says

The man was identified as Austin Tucker Martin of North Carolina. The Secret Service said he was observed carrying “what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can.”

Kristi Noem’s Audience of One

The DHS secretary is suddenly talking about more than just mass deportations.

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.

As trade envoy, Prince Andrew promoted Britain and exploited his access

For a decade, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested on Thursday, advocated globally for U.K. trade, cooking up deals that at times made his family cringe.

TSA says PreCheck not suspended as partial government shutdown affects DHS

The Department of Homeland Security denied reports that it had suspended TSA PreCheck and Global Entry services starting Sunday due to government shutdown.

60% disapprove of Trump ahead of State of the Union, Post-ABC-Ipsos poll finds

But Democrats have made little headway in persuading Americans that they have better ideas or policies to offer.

Keep Calm and Adapt

Matt Shumer’s viral essay about AI is part of a long history of fear produced by technological change.

Western Ideas Work

The Anti-Communist Film Festival’s New Sponsor

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.

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.

Judges in Virginia name new U.S. attorney, then Justice Dept. fires him

The nearly immediate removal of longtime litigator James W. Hundley continues a clash over control of one of the country’s highest-profile prosecutor’s offices.

In Gorsuch’s Homage to Legislative Power, a Subtle Reproach of a Neutered Congress

In his concurrence to the ruling invalidating President Trump’s tariffs, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch made a forceful case for the sanctity of the legislative process — and an implicit critique of its current dysfunction.

Police Assoc. to Newsmax: Mar-a-Lago Shooting 'Excellent Work'

National Police Association spokeswoman Betsy Brantner Smith said Sunday on Newsmax that the shooting of an armed intruder at Mar-a-Lago demonstrates that law enforcement tactics and coordination worked exactly as intended.

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’s MAGA base raged against Iran strikes last year. This time, it’s quieter.

Although many leading MAGA voices are quieter than they were in June, some foreign policy experts who have advocated a more limited approach have continued to raise the alarm.

CNN Political Briefing

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

Grenell calls ice rink vandal a 'terrorist' as federal authorities hunt suspect in toxic attack

Trump-Kennedy Center vandalism suspect accused of pouring toxic substance on outdoor ice rink as federal authorities investigate what officials described as a "targeted attack."

Ren McEachern to Newsmax: Foreign Links Possible

Former FBI acting section chief Ren McEachern said on Newsmax that the shooting of an armed suspect at Mar-a-Lago highlights ongoing security threats facing President Donald Trump and the need for a thorough investigation, including the potential …

WATCH: Top 5 most memorable moments in American State of the Union history

Trump's upcoming State of the Union address could spark viral moments like Reagan's guest acknowledgment, Pelosi tearing up Trump's speech and Biden's exchanges.

The Artemis Project

The race is on to build a base for permanent human habitation on the Moon.

Armed Man Is Fatally Shot at Mar-a-Lago, Secret Service Says

The local sheriff identified the man as Austin Tucker Martin, 21, of Cameron, N.C. The president was not at his resort in Florida and has not commented on the shooting.

Sunday Smiles

The Father of Our Country and Stories That Formed Us

When I was growing up in the '60s in California, Presidents Day wasn't a thing - though we did honor our two greatest presidents. Feb. 12 was celebrated as Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Ten days later, we observed George Washington's birthday.

Conservative Women Find a New Way to Talk About ICE

When can an influencer opt out of the news cycle?

Trump banner on Justice Dept. building draws authoritarian comparisons

Democrats criticized the appearance of the president on the headquarters of a department that has long prided itself on being independent from the 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.

Why more lawmakers are quitting Congress, and what it means for the midterms

Ahead of the midterm elections, a wave of House and Senate members are retiring or running for other offices.

Trump sending US military hospital ship to Greenland to 'take care' of sick

President Donald Trump says he will send a hospital ship to Greenland as Denmark demonstrates unity with Arctic territory amid tensions.

Congress could get a healthy pay raise, courtesy of the courts

A group of ex-members and veteran lawmakers have advanced an unusual lawsuit that could lead to larger salaries.

JPMorgan Closed More Than 50 Trump Accounts in 2021

The revelation by JPMorgan came after Trump "and the Trump Organization" filed a lawsuit in January against JPMorgan Chase and its CEO, Jamie Dimon, for having debanked the president, according to the outlet.

Secret Service: Armed Man Shot and Killed After Entering Mar-a-Lago Secure Perimeter

The U.S. Secret Service said on Sunday its agents shot and killed a man in his 20s after he tried to unlawfully enter a secure perimeter at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump is currently in Washington.F…

Spanberger signs bill that could help Democrats gain four House seats

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has signed legislation that includes congressional redistricting maps that could favor Democrats 10-1 if voters pass a referendum.

Canada’s Unmarked-Graves Farce Continues Apace

Almost five years after falsely claiming it had found graves of 215 Indigenous children, the Kamloops First Nation has announced the supposed crime scene may never be excavated—but could instead be preserved as a ‘Sacred Site.’

Populism’s Self-Defeating Trap

Populist rhetoric is exceptionally effective for pursuing and gaining power, but it provides no program for the complexities of actual governance.

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…

Some Colleges Use AI to Read Applications

Pa. Gov. Shapiro, Neighbors Trade Suits Over Disputed Parcel

Pennsylvania Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro is locked in a court fight with his neighbors over a roughly 10-foot-wide strip of land beside his driveway after a survey tied to his planned 8-foot security fence showed the parcel belonged on paper to the…

The Democrats Aren’t Built for This

They say they want to save democracy. First they’ll need to get out of their own way.

Armed man shot and killed after ‘unauthorized entry’ into Mar-a-Lago: Secret Service

A man was fatally shot after allegedly making an "unauthorized entry" at Mar-a-Lago while carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and fuel can.

Incredibly Mamdani's NYC Budget Exceeds Entire State of Florida

So the Mamdani budget for New York City at $127 billion exceeds the budget for the state of Florida ($116 billion) which has 3 times as many people and yet people are moving to Florida for a better quality of life.

Oikophobia and the Crisis of Western Democracy with Shany Mor | Quillette Cetera Ep. 62

An Israeli former National Security Council official examines Australia’s anti-Israel protests, the rise of antizionism in Western academia, and the growing crisis of democratic confidence across the West.

Exiled Iranian princess: Islamic regime 'has never been this close' to falling, people 'begging' Trump to help

Exiled Iranian princess Noor Phalavi said Iran's regime has never been weaker than it is now and urged action against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

AOC blames critics, Trump after Munich hiccup backlash

AOC faces viral criticism after stumbling over Taiwan defense question, with fiancé's snoring heard during her lengthy Instagram response to critics.

Eileen Gu Is an Indictment of Birthright Citizenship

Gu embodies what our immigration orthodoxy promotes: an America where citizens of the world can enrich themselves with no loyalties attached.

The Epstein Emails Show How the Powerful Talk About Race

The files reveal the disgraced financier’s interest in “race science.”

Pete King to Newsmax: 'Wrong' to Personally Attack Justices

President Donald Trump was "wrong" to personally criticize Supreme Court justices following the high court's ruling against his tariffs, former Rep. Pete King told Newsmax on Sunday.

Iran Could Direct Proxies to Attack U.S. Targets Abroad, Officials Warn

Security officials are monitoring increasingly worrisome signs as President Trump considers another military campaign against Iran.

Anti-Trump Republicans Face Divisions and an Uncertain Future

Divisions over what and who should come next were evident as G.O.P. critics of the president, weakened in their party, gathered at a summit near Washington.

Original Sin, Ultimate Redemption: Sunday Reflection

Israel’s Ministry of Truth? An Interview with Gadi Taub

Historian Gadi Taub discusses media leaks, military censorship, and the Sde Teiman controversy in Israel—and his defamation suit against Ronen Bergman.

Trump Weighs Iran Strike Options, Including Kill Plot

President Donald Trump is weighing military options against Iran, including a possible decapitation campaign targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Trump’s talk of sending a hospital ship to Greenland puzzles leaders

Trump says he’s sending a ship to care for Greenland’s sick. But the territory doesn’t want the help and the U.S. appears to have no hospital ships available to send.

Ex Agent to Newsmax: FBI Lead at Mar-a-Lago Shooting Points to Wider Probe

The FBI's decision to take the lead in investigating the fatal shooting of a man who attempted to breach the perimeter of Mar-a-Lago early Sunday suggests there may be a broader component to the incident, former FBI special agent Stuart Kaplan tol…

Bianco says ‘Democrat policy is indefensible’ as GOP candidates top California governor polling

Sheriff Chad Bianco responds after polling cited by the New York Post shows two Republicans leading California’s crowded governor race.

BREAKING: Secret Service Shoots Armed Intruder at Mar-a-Lago; UPDATE: Identified

Supreme Court put the brakes on Trump, after Congress helped him step on the gas

Trump has walked all over Congress but prior presidents of both parties have stretched the bounds of emergency powers.

Trump Says He Will Raise Global Tariff to 15 Percent

The move signaled that the president would press ahead with steep global import taxes despite the legal setback from the Supreme Court.

President Trump tells Netflix to fire Susan Rice or 'pay consequences'

Trump demands Netflix fire board member Susan Rice or "pay the consequences" after she warned corporations not to expect Democratic forgiveness for their actions.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor: Friday 13 February — Friday 20 February

How A.I. Money Is Flooding Into the Midterm Elections

A.I. companies, along with allied groups and executives, spent at least $83 million on federal elections last year, and huge amounts are set to arrive this year.

Ruling Hands China Leverage Ahead of Summit With U.S.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is heading to the negotiating table with Donald Trump with a boost in bargaining power, after the US leader lost his ability to quickly raise tariffs for nearly any reason.

One of the Most Important Small-Town Papers of the Industrial Age Closing

Denmark Rejects Trump’s Plan to Send Hospital Boat to Greenland

Denmark’s defense minister said Greenland did not need health care assistance, a day after President Trump said he planned to send a “great hospital boat” to the island.

Blowing the Big Moment Is Only Human, Scientists Discover

The Truth About Free Will

Neuroscience’s challenge to free will misses the point: consciousness and choice emerge from complex systems, not individual neurons.

Senate G.O.P. Faces Pressure to Force ‘Talking Filibuster’ for Voter ID Bill

Some reluctant Republicans say an old-school filibuster showdown with Democrats could paralyze the Senate with no guarantee of success. But President Trump and their own colleagues are spoiling for the fight.

Trump Attack on SCOTUS Was Unhinged Even for Him

The president went on a wild rant alleging that the justices who struck down his tariffs were part of a vast global conspiracy to destroy him.

When Faced With Claims of Racism, Trump Points to His Black Friends

President Trump has often invoked his unnamed Black friends, or name-checked celebrities and athletes, when asked to discuss anything related to Black voters.

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.

NBC Poll Finds Declining Support For Trump's Immigration Agenda -- Blame NBC

The Disappointment of Young Trump Voters

Americans under 30 swung to the right in 2024, but they’re not getting what they voted for.

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

Shutdown at D.H.S. Extends to Cyber Agency, Adding to Setbacks

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has navigated staffing cuts without a Senate-confirmed leader. Employees have become demoralized and concerned about the agency’s ability to ward off threats.

What Jesse Jackson Taught Democrats

Rev. Jesse Jackson - a titanic civil rights leader, politician, and activist - died on Tuesday at the age of 84.

What Mamdani Doesn’t Know About Tenants

Fixing New York’s affordable housing isn’t as simple as going after bad landlords.