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 Second Death of Charlie Kirk

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

Report: Top DHS Spokesperson to Exit Trump Admin

Tricia McLaughlin, a top spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, is leaving the Trump administration, according to Politico, and attributed to two department administrators familiar with the move.

Congress Hobbles Trump's Efforts to Cut Govt Spending

Nearly a year after President Donald Trump unveiled a budget blueprint calling for some of the steepest spending reductions in modern history, Congress declined to adopt many of the proposed cuts...

When You're Over the Target and Fighting, They Come After You

Texas Attorney General, a candidate challenging Sen. John Cornyn for the Republican Senate nomination, told "FOX News Sunday" that attacks against him prove he's going after the right issues.

Historic Music City Venue Singin' the Property Tax Blues

Judge orders migrant deported in 'error' free from ICE custody with criminal case looming

The judge ruled said that Trump administration officials have done 'nothing' to prove Abrego Garcia's continued ICE detention would be in line with due process.

Shakespeare in Love and Grief

It appears that people now find comfort in the idea that the life of even the greatest of writers is no more satisfying than their own.

Whitaker to Newsmax: AOC, Whitmer Had No Policy Answers in Munich

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told Newsmax's "National Report" that tough questions about world affairs left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer scrambling for coherent answers...

CNN Political Briefing

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

Data Is Clear, I Was (Happily) Wrong About Economy

Real incomes are growing. Americans are adding wealth. Inflation continues to moderate. Unemployment remains relatively low. Where's Trump's credit?

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 Trust Has Been Absolutely Destroyed’

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

Trump: Potomac Spill a 'Radical Left' Environmental Hazard

President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., leaders to act "IMMEDIATELY" to address a massive sewage spill fouling the Potomac River, placing public pressure on local officials while the environmental cleanup …

Mitch McConnell is taking a beating in the race to replace him

Three GOP candidates, all former McConnell interns, are keeping their distance as they seek to align with President Donald Trump.

It's Racist to Like Dogs, Apparently

Labor OIG: $1B in COVID Benefits Vulnerable to Fraud

The Labor Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has determined that just under $1 billion in COVID-era unemployment benefits has not been used and could be subject to fraud.

Republicans Reach Deal With Democrats in N.C. Voter Rolls Case

The agreement, which still must be approved by a judge, would end a lawsuit brought by the Republican National Committee that challenged the state’s handling of its voter registration list.

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.

Ed Crane, Who Built a Libertarian Stronghold, Dies at 81

Starting with $500,000 in seed money from Charles Koch, Mr. Crane made the Cato Institute the nation’s pre-eminent libertarian think tank.

Schumer, Dems' goal is to 'tie people down' so they can't campaign, Thune says

Every day campaigning matters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., contended the Democrats are harming the GOP's ability to hit the trail.

Punk Rock and the Anti-Communist Film Festival

The Disappointment of Young Trump Voters

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

Ky. GOP Senate Primary a Referendum on McConnell's Legacy

Kentucky Republicans vying to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have turned the state's May 19 primary into a high-stakes argument over what his four decades of power should mean to a party increasingly shaped by President Donald Trump.

ICE After Minneapolis

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

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 directs federal government to intervene in Potomac sewage spill

President Donald Trump said the federal government would help with an incident that poured 200 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River.

Why We Still Love the Bomb

Stanley Kubrick’s comic masterpiece ‘Dr Strangelove’ remains a potent allegory for our times.   

Rep. Steube to Newsmax: Democrat ICE Demands Are 'Nonstarters'

Florida GOP Rep. Greg Steube said Democrats are "holding hostage the American people" by tying government funding to what he repeatedly called "ridiculous reforms" that are "complete nonstarters."

The Epstein Emails Show How the Powerful Talk About Race

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

Trump's Washington Has Become Unrecognizable

The nation's capital and America's democracy have become shells of their former selves

Hegseth Is Said to Have Ordered Pentagon Spokesman’s Firing

The spokesman, Col. Dave Butler, worked for the Army chief of staff.

Minnesota Democrats demand reparations from ICE after losing $18 billion to Somali fraud

Minnesota Democrats seek federal reparations after ICE operations while allegedly ignoring $18 billion in fraud losses to taxpayers from social programs.

U.S. Kills 11 in Boat Strikes in Pacific and Caribbean

It was the first time in the campaign against people the United States accuses of drug smuggling at sea that American forces blew up boats on both sides of the Panama Canal in the same day.

DHS Blasts Report on Noem, Coast Guard Tensions

The Department of Homeland Security rejected an NBC News report claiming Secretary Kristi Noem has a strained relationship with Coast Guard officials.

What Mamdani Doesn’t Know About Tenants

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

Air Force Two Gets New Paint Job Amid Modernization Debate

A long-running effort to modernize the nation's most recognizable executive aircraft is entering a new phase as the Air Force moves forward with delayed replacements for Air Force One and early signs of a possible paint change appear on aircraft u…

Mourners remember Jackson outside his organization’s Chicago headquarters.

Kristi Noem’s Audience of One

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

Trump withholds endorsement in fiery GOP Senate primary as early voting begins in Texas

Trump remains undecided on the Texas Senate primary as Cornyn faces MAGA challengers Paxton and Hunt in a competitive Republican race ahead of March 3 voting.

Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition Was a Powerful Advocate for His Politics

The campaigning organization Jesse Jackson founded became the vehicle he used to push for social justice and change policy.

Could Dogs Become a Wedge Issue? UPDATE: AOC Weighs In

Jackson’s ‘Keep Hope Alive’ Speech in 1988 Was a Call for Social Justice and Unity

Jesse Jackson didn’t win the Democratic nomination for president that year, but his address at the party’s convention moved some delegates to tears.

The Price of the Epstein Frenzy

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

US Kills 11 in 3 Strikes on Suspected Narco-Trafficking Boats

The Trump administration this week ordered lethal strikes against vessels it said were engaged in narco-trafficking, killing 11 suspected narco-terrorists in three operations across the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, the U.S. militar…

Al Sharpton, Bernice King and Trump Among Tributes to Jesse Jackson

In states including South Carolina, where Mr. Jackson was born, and Illinois, officials also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff.

Obama dragged for 'headache'-inducing presidential center update that has visitors squinting

Barack Obama's Chicago presidential center generates controversy over architectural design and gentrification concerns. The campus includes a museum tower with Selma speech text.

Conservative Women Find a New Way to Talk About ICE

When can an influencer opt out of the news cycle?

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.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor: Friday 6 February – Friday 13 February

Why Democrats Aren't Stressing the Partial DHS Shutdown

While time is usually on the status quo's side, Senate Democrats' unity gives them room to dig in on their demands to rein in ICE and Border Patrol.

What Were the Odds? Spanish Socialists Grossly Underestimated Number of Illegals They Let In

What Would It Take for Democrats To Take the Senate?

Can Democrats take the Senate in 2026? A state-by-state look at primaries, electability fights, and the path to a majority.

‘Not American Enough’

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

Senate Candidate Whatley to Newsmax: Will Fight for N.C. as Trump 'Ally'

Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley said on Newsmax Tuesday that he will back "economic policies that are going to create jobs" and serve as "an ally for President Donald Trump in the Senate" as he campaigns in North Carolina against poten…

Republicans, Braced for Losses, Push More Voting Restrictions in Congress

Legislation that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote was only the beginning as the G.O.P. presses to sharply limit voting in line with President Trump’s false claims of widespread fraud.

Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson Dead at 84

Jackson's presidential runs in 1984 and 1988 played a significant role in shaping the modern Democratic Party.

The Jesse Jackson Speech That Helped Redefine the Democratic Party’s Base

In his 1984 speech at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, Mr. Jackson argued for a more diverse coalition for the party.

Goldman Sachs Finally Dumps DEI For Board Picks

The Epstein files have brought a wave of resignations and investigations

A number of prominent figures have stepped down or are facing investigations after their communications with Jeffrey Epstein and his former longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, were released last month.

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.

NYT: Leave Britney, er, AOC Alone!

Why Democrats Haven't Been Able To Moderate

It was one of the final days of the Texas legislature's regular session in 2023.

Robert Duvall Always Struck the Balance

The renowned Hollywood great, who died on Sunday at 95, excelled at portraying a nuanced, complicated maturity

Tricia McLaughlin, Forceful Defender of Trump’s Immigration Agenda, Is Leaving DHS

Ms. McLaughlin was one of the most prominent voices in the administration defending President Trump’s mass deportation campaign.

The Murder of The Washington Post

Today’s layoffs are the latest attempt to kill what makes the paper special.

How Jesse Jackson Inspired Generations of Black Democrats

Mr. Jackson’s presidential campaigns created a pathway for scores of Black Democrats to run for office, with many making historic leaps to prominent offices.

US kills 11 in 3 strikes on alleged drug-running boats

The U.S. military destroyed three alleged narco-terrorist vessels in a series of strikes late Monday, U.S. Southern Command announced Tuesday.

What WSJ Gets Wrong About the Talking Filibuster

The talking filibuster has been a tool in the Senate's arsenal for 200 years. Returning to it could unlock the majesty of the institution.

Supreme Court to use software to identify justices’ conflict of interests

The Supreme Court will begin using software to scan litigants’ filings to identify justices’ potential conflicts of interest.

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…

Politics of the Day

Politics of the Day

England’s Founding Father

How a 10th-century warrior-statesman forged a unified England and why his legacy still matters in our identity-obsessed day.   

Trump won’t let Dem sewage 'failures' slide as Moore faces heat over infrastructure grade

Raw sewage spill in Potomac River reaches bacteria levels 2,700 times safe limit after pipeline collapse, sparking political battle between Trump and local officials.

How Crime Flourishes on Turo

Peer-to-peer car lending has less oversight over both hosts and guests, contributing to a risky platform rife with criminal activity.

Hunt files police report against Cornyn campaign staffer over alleged family 'doxxing' incident

Texas Senate candidate Wesley Hunt filed a police report after an opponent's campaign staffer allegedly posted his personal info on social media.

Judge orders slavery exhibit to be restored after Trump administration removal

A GOP-appointed federal judge in Pennsylvania has ordered the Trump administration to restore displays about slavery to a George Washington site in Philadelphia.

Hegseth forces ouster of senior Army spokesman in latest internal clash

Col. David Butler, who had been selected by senior Army leaders for promotion to brigadier general, will instead retire, officials said.

Iran signals nuclear progress in Geneva as Trump calls for full dismantlement

U.S.-Iran negotiations in Geneva show "potential framework" progress, but sharp divisions remain over nuclear dismantlement and diplomatic threats.

NYC Mayor to State: Avoid Crisis by Raising Taxes

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged the state to raise taxes on New York's wealthiest residents and largest corporations, warning that his city is facing what he described as a looming fiscal crisis.

Podcast #324: Guests of the Nation

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to writer Lionel Shriver about her new novel, A Better Life, which tackles the theme of immigration.

Graham Allen vs. Candace Owens

Aliens are ‘real,’ Obama says, as Washington shrugs

The former president appeared to confirm decades-old conspiracy theories. Lawmakers say Barack Obama is simply saying what many Americans already believe.

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.

Monday's Final Word

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…

Election integrity groups press Supreme Court to require ballots by Election Day

Election integrity groups urge Supreme Court to ban counting mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day, potentially affecting laws in 14 states and D.C.

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin to leave Trump admin, source confirms

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia is leaving the Trump administration, Fox News has confirmed.

I covered Jesse Jackson’s 1988 campaign. The racism he faced was undisguised.

Those months revealed many things about America, not all as uplifting as the spirit that propelled the civil rights leader to second place in the Democratic presidential primary.

The Complicated Legacy of Jesse Jackson

Tuesday, February 17th on RealClearPolitics: 00:00 Jesse Jackson Passes at 84 12:17 New Survey Reports Increase in Antisemitism 18:39 Rubio's Big Speech 28:2...

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.

Strange Delight

Radley Metzger’s 1975 hardcore adaptation of a celebrated literary hoax is a vast improvement on the cynical source material.

Jesse Jackson, a leading voice for civil rights, dies at 84

A former aide to Martin Luther King Jr., he launched two historic presidential campaigns while spreading a message of hope and resilience: “I am — somebody.”

Keep Calm and Adapt

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

Trans Activist Whose Complaints Got Graham Linehan Arrested Winds Up in Police Van

The Axe Files with David Axelrod

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

The Moral Collapse of Empire

Southeast Asia in World War II, Part One: Japanese Conquests and British Disgrace

CA Governor Race Has Become a Nightmare for Democrats

California jungle primary raises fears Democrats could miss the governor ballot as GOP candidates lead polls.

Trump hammers AOC Munich stumbles as 'not a good look for the United States'

Trump criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Munich Security Conference performance, calling it "not a good look for the United States" on foreign policy.

Trump picks his White House assistant for panel reviewing ballroom

Chamberlain Harris, a 26-year-old White House aide and the president’s longtime executive assistant, is set to be sworn in Thursday.

California Legislature: Nothing to See Here, Move Along

About 10% of Mass Shootings Have Been Committed by Alphabet People in Recent Years

The Housing Crisis Is Destroying Homeownership—and Undermining Democracy

Escalating house prices and density rules trap young people in renting, eroding homeownership—a key to democracy.

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.

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.

Capitalism’s Paradox

Why prosperity breeds guilt, how status incentives reward critique, and what happens when function is replaced by moral performance.

Stop Pretending the Tumbler Ridge Killer Was Female

The sight of Canadian police and journalists extending fraudulent courtesies to a trans-identified mass-murderer may prove to be a clarifying moment.