Today's Liberal News

The Tortured Poet of Love Gets Engaged

It’s hard to imagine a world in which Taylor Swift didn’t eventually get married. Perhaps no artist today has an identity tied as closely to the idea of a forever love as hers is. So the Instagram announcement yesterday about her engagement to her boyfriend of two years, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, felt existentially fitting, even preordained.
Swift has been writing songs that look ahead toward marriage since she was a teenager.

Why America Isn’t Rome (And Why That Matters)

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On this episode of The David Frum Show, The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with reflections on the misuse of history in today’s politics. He argues that fascism, once thought to have been buried by the Second World War, has reemerged in modern forms, thriving on the endless hunt for enemies, stoking culture wars, and exploiting new technologies. And he explains why the best antidotes remain liberty, equality, and sometimes humor.

Why a Chinese Animated Film Has Made More Money Than Any Star Wars Sequel

Like its mischievous demigod protagonist, the Chinese animated fantasy film Ne Zha II has been a practically unstoppable force. Since its initial release in China, over Lunar New Year, the blockbuster has earned more than $2 billion worldwide. It’s now the highest-grossing film of 2025, the highest-grossing animated film of all time, and the highest-grossing non-English-language film in history.

First Black Fed Governor, Lisa Cook, Sues Trump over His Attempt to Fire Her

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is suing President Donald Trump to challenge his attempt to fire her from the board of the central bank. A president cannot get rid of Fed officials over policy disagreements, but he can dismiss someone “for cause.” In recent days, Trump’s allies have accused Cook of misrepresentation on her mortgage forms, which Trump cited Monday when demanding her removal.

DNC Panel Rejects Resolution Demanding U.S. Arms Embargo on Israel

The divide in the Democratic Party over Gaza came into full view at a meeting Tuesday of the Democratic National Committee, where party members debated rival resolutions on the U.S.-Israel relationship.
We speak with Allison Minnerly, a 26-year-old DNC member from Florida, who introduced a resolution for the party to support an arms embargo on Israel, cut off military aid to the country and recognize Palestinian statehood.

Gaza Doctor Says Israel’s Deadly Attack on Nasser Hospital “Crosses All Red Lines”

We speak with the head of pediatrics at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, where Israel killed more than 20 people, including five journalists, Monday in a “double-tap” strike, drawing global condemnation. Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra says Israel’s justification of targeting a camera on the roof is “unbelievable,” and calls the attack “a calculated trap aimed at targeting rescue teams.

Meet George Retes, Disabled Army Vet to Sue Trump Admin over Unlawful ICE Detention

We speak with George Retes, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen and Army veteran who is taking on the federal government after he was detained by ICE for three days and three nights without explanation. Retes was arrested during a raid in July at a cannabis farm in Camarillo, California, where he worked as a security guard. Retes was driving to work when he encountered a checkpoint, where agents broke his car window, pepper-sprayed him and dragged him out of his vehicle for arrest.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025: Highly Commended

© Jamie Smart / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Rutting Call. Highly Commended, 10 Years and Under. Jamie Smart portrays a red deer stag as it gives a mighty bellow during the autumn rut in Bradgate Park in Leicestershire, England. Jamie walked up and down a path in the park at a safe distance from the stag. She stretched herself up tall to avoid any long grass in the foreground spoiling her view.© Leana Kuster / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Pink Pose. Highly Commended, 15–17 Years.

The Natural Endpoint of Trump’s Falsehoods

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If you’re looking for reasons to be skeptical about the FBI’s raid on John Bolton’s home last week, you don’t have to look very hard.

The Defiant Conventionality of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

Let’s be honest: We all knew they were getting engaged when she went on his podcast. In 2025, that’s as good as a diamond ring.
Even more tellingly, when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce sat next to each other earlier this month on the video feed of New Heights, telling the story of how they met, they looked like one of the old couples in When Harry Met Sally. They finished each other’s sentences. They gently mocked each other.