Shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term, he signed an executive order dismantling DEI policies across the federal government. He also threatened public companies with the loss of government contracts and educational institutions with the loss of federal funding if they maintained such policies. The policy is believed to have contributed to the loss of 271,000 federal jobs, 95,000 of which—or 35 percent—were held by Black women.

Public and private companies capitulated. Educational institutions quickly began removing DEI policies and language from their programs and official documents. Companies such as Target, Amazon, McDonald’s, and others became targets of boycotts by members of the Black community.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, with all the zeal of a child desperate to please his daddy, began dismantling decades of military progress by removing DEI policies intended to strengthen the armed forces and, ultimately, protect America. His efforts have included denying promotions to well-qualified and deserving individuals. Navy officials are even considering whether to change the name of the USS *Doris Miller*, named for the Black sailor who acted heroically during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and instead name the aircraft carrier after Donald Trump.

Thomas Miller, Doris Miller’s great-nephew, told CNN, “This isn’t just about a name on a ship. It’s about an opportunity and a goal. It’s about the significance of what it means to be an American.” That significance appears to be precisely what is being erased.

After President Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential election, he urged Democrats to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris in his place. Despite her experience as California’s attorney general, a United States senator, and vice president, Republican talking points quickly labeled her a “DEI hire.”

Yet after the unexpected passing of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, President Trump urged the governor to appoint Graham’s sister, Darline Graham to fill the vacant seat. It was predictable that Trump would want to honor one of his closest allies in the Senate. Ms. Graham’s service as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, along with her recent election as president of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, is commendable.

Her service to the blind community—and, by extension, to the people of South Carolina—is certainly laudable. But community service does not automatically qualify someone for the United States Senate.

During a debate against Ralph Norman, a congressman representing South Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District, Ms. Graham was asked whether Taiwan and the South China Sea constituted national security issues for the United States—and why. She admitted that she was not well-informed on national security matters.

No one expects Ms. Graham to be as versed in military policy as her late brother. But anyone seeking a seat in the United States Senate should have at least a basic understanding of the global challenges facing the country. For almost any other candidate, that admission would be viewed as a serious, perhaps disqualifying, weakness.That weakness matters even more as America remains engaged in Trump’s war of choice with Iran, with the support of congressional Republicans.

If qualifications matter when evaluating Kamala Harris—or anyone else branded a “DEI hire”—they should matter just as much when evaluating a candidate supported by the president. But not in Trump’s America, or in the America reflected by the congressional Republicans and constituents who continue to support him.

In that America, loyalty, family connections, and political convenience count for more than preparation. The standard is not whether a candidate is qualified. The standard is whether the candidate belongs to the right political tribe.

It doesn’t matter who wins the runoff between Ms. Graham and Mr. Norman. South Carolinians will send one of them to the Senate in November to do exactly what the President wants. In that case qualifications are not required.

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Todd Blanche appears at his confirmation hearing for attorney general in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill on July 15, 2026 in Washington, D.C.

Eric Lee/Getty Images

Last week, Senator Tom Tillis of North Carolina announced his support for advancing Todd Blanche’s nomination to the full Senate. Initially, Tillis had indicated he would oppose Blanche’s nomination unless he engaged with Epstein survivors and addressed the controversial $1.8 billion fund meant for reparations for the January 6th rioters, who were pardoned on the first day of Trump’s second term. During the confirmation hearing, Tillis criticized both Biden and Obama, claiming they had fostered a climate of retribution, and urged Blanche to “reverse the curve” of such actions by the current administration. Given the present political landscape and the newly sworn-in Attorney General, that reversal seems improbable. In the end, despite his fiery rhetoric, Tillis voted “yes” for Blanche.

The atmosphere in the Senate was characterized by familiar finger-pointing. Tillis and Senator Cornyn received written assurances from Blanche that the contentious fund would remain untapped or rendered defunct. When Cornyn was pressed about his endorsement of Blanche, he remarked that there was “nothing the Republican-controlled Senate could do to rein Trump in.” Senator Cassidy of Louisiana, although not part of the Senate Judiciary Committee, warned that Trump might choose someone worse. These three Senators have been dubbed the “YOLO” caucus—You Only Live Once—a label that arose after several Trump-backed candidates defeated them in the primaries. In this context, many interpret the Senators’ acquiescence on Blanche’s nomination as a stark lack of political courage.

The confirmation itself prompts concerns about a Republican conference across both chambers that are aligned with the President on a range of issues. GOP lawmakers have lent their support to Trump’s actions regarding the war in Iran, the treatment of detainees by ICE, and tariffs. Economists have noted that both the war and those tariffs have exacerbated inflationary pressures, resulting in soaring mortgage rates, rising gas prices, and climbing grocery bills. To alter the narrative, Trump and his allies have attempted to paint progressive Democrats as extreme. The charged rhetoric they employ—often referring to “Communists”—is a tactic used to distract from the pressing issues Americans face. Ironically, it is Trump and the Republicans who emulate a communist ethos, intoxicated by power and enriching themselves at the expense of the constituents they were elected to serve.

The pivotal question remains: who will hold the reins of power to check Trump? Congressional Republicans have relinquished that responsibility. Some analysts assert they will support Trump’s agenda to maintain control, even if it means intervening in the midterms to ensure they remain in power. Corporations have capitulated since day one of Trump's second term, poised to invest millions in advertising to safeguard the status quo. Aside from a few high-profile cases, such as rulings on birthright citizenship and mail-in ballots, the Supreme Court has largely enabled and emboldened Trump. The prospect of sustained Trump influence, potentially signaled by future campaigns, is a consideration for analysts, particularly as it appears Congress may refrain from acting against him. But the central issue remains whether a credible mechanism exists to change this trajectory. The newly appointed Attorney General is sure to challenge election outcomes that don’t favor Trump, and it’s evident that Blanche is no Bill Barr.

As the midterms approach, Democrats must unite and resist being driven on the defensive by Republican accusations of communism. A Democratic-controlled House and Senate are essential to check this presidency. Contrary to strategists suggesting Democrats must offer more than mere opposition to Trump, the critical question should focus on which legislative initiatives from a Democratic House or Senate could possibly gain Trump’s support. With the primary season winding down, both progressive and moderate Democrats share a singular goal: reclaiming one or both chambers of Congress. This struggle promises to resemble the intense cage match witnessed on the White House lawn underscoring the importance of tenacity and unity among Democrats in the face of mounting challenges.

In 1983 I signed a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Colts, the team’s last season in Baltimore before moving to Indianapolis. I was in my hotel room, watching the Philadelphia 76ers face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. It was a tight game, decided in the final two possessions. As the clock ran down, Cheeks grabbed the final rebound and sprinted the length of the court for a dunk that sealed a 115-108 victory and a 4-0 series sweep. That moment felt as thrilling as the Eagles’ comeback win in the 2018 Super Bowl against the Tom Brady–led Patriots.

In September 1982, Sixers owner Harold Katz traded Caldwell Jones and a first-round pick to the Houston Rockets for Moses Malone. You might be asking yourself, who was Caldwell Jones… outside of Philly sports faithful, an unknown defensive center.

Moses, coming off his second MVP award, joined a team featuring Julius Erving (Dr. J), Andrew Toney (AKA the Boston Strangler), Mo Cheeks, and Bobby Jones. Moses brought the rebounding, defense, and inside scoring the Sixers needed. He had swag and a cool confidence, a swagger that could be seen in his stroll and summed up in a single phrase: FO, FO, FO. They finished the postseason 12-1, with that chant evolving to FO, FI, FO, which appeared on their championship rings and even inspired a song by Philly’s Pieces of a Dream.

The arrival of Malone raised expectations just as Erving did, the high-flying Afro-wearing human highlight reel. In the 1976 ABA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest he took flight from the foul line to dunk the ball—a dunk that inspired generations of imitators. Erving was acquired in 1976 from the New York Nets of the defunct ABA and joined the Sixers with the same level of expectation that surrounded Moses. He led the Sixers to three Finals appearances but fell short in 1977 to the Portland Trail Blazers and in 1980 and 1982 to the Lakers.

Since the 1983 championship, promise has often met disappointment. The Barkley years offered hope but ended with his trade to the Phoenix Suns. The team’s last Finals trip was in 2001, when Allen Iverson led the Sixers and ultimately lost to the Lakers.

Now, LeBron James, at 41, is arguably one of the two best players who have ever played in the league. Michael Jordan still holds the title of G.O.A.T. in many eyes. That’s a debate that excites passions and will be ongoing at least until my generation bows out of the debate.

LeBron joins a team that recently added Jaylen Brown from the Celtics, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and last year’s rookie standout VJ Edgecomb. The Sixers look ready for a strong 2026-2027 season, and the faithful are hoping for a deep playoff run that ends in an NBA title. With an eighty-two-game regular season, the road to a championship is long and uncertain, but expectations are high. If history is a guide, as with Julius and Moses before him, LeBron’s addition portends good things for the Sixers. As a lifelong fan, I’m excited to see what this team can achieve.

In the past weeks, two immigrants were killed by ICE during traffic stops; Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston Texas, and Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford Maine. Earlier this year the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE drew national outrage and nationwide protest. These tragedies are not isolated incidents; they reflect a pattern in which enforcement priorities, rather than people’s safety and dignity, guide policy. When the administration paused ICE traffic stops after the latest death, only to reverse course as directed by the President it signaled a cycle of reaction rather than reform. We deserve policies grounded in humanity, accountability, and the public’s best interests, not headlines that fade as new crises arrive.

The international picture compounds the stakes. Escalating tensions in the Middle East, ongoing hostilities between the United States and Iran, and the contested control of the Strait of Hormuz have real consequences for American families: higher energy bills, higher grocery prices, and a sense that foreign policy decisions are driven by brinksmanship and bravado rather than clear, achievable goals. We cannot continue to sacrifice the lives of Americans of whom 18 have been killed to date at the time of this writing and economic insecurity to project an image of strength. Diplomacy, restraint, and transparent, verifiable goals should guide our approach to national security.

Domestically, these foreign-policy choices intersect with the daily concerns of working families. The costs at the pump and in the supermarket are not incidental byproducts of policy; they are direct outcomes of how we allocate resources, what we invest in, and whom we protect. A responsible administration should ask hard questions about warfare, trade, and taxation, and measure success by how policies improve the lives of working people—whether that means lower drug and grocery costs, stronger worker protections, or steadier energy prices.

The current administration’s course is to wage a war of choice, raise tariffs, terrorize immigrants, pass a budget bill that cuts critical social programs including Medicaid and Medicare, as well as using taxpayer funds to build monuments to a President whose job approval ratings are in the 30s. These are the priorities of Republicans.

That is why Democrats must present a clear, coherent agenda that speaks to red and blue districts alike. This is especially critical in general election races for the Senate in states like Michigan, Texas, Maine and Georgia. The party cannot allow internal debates about ideology or the noise of primary battles to obscure a practical, alternative. We are the party devoted to opportunity, fairness, and accountability. Progressives and moderates can and should unite behind concrete, verifiable policies that deliver tangible benefits—jobs with rising wages, affordable healthcare, safe communities, and a just immigration system that keeps families intact and strengthens the economy.

Our town resembled many other small communities in the county—home to hardworking blue-collar individuals who took pride in their labor and community. This civic pride was most evident during the Fourth of July celebrations. Main Street, lined with spectators on both sides, became alive with one of the largest parades in the county. High school marching bands from across the region participated, while the local residents, many dressed in new outfits for the occasion, came out in droves. The day was filled with vendors, games, and rides at the town park, culminating in a band competition at the football field and an impressive fireworks display that residents cherished.

Fast forward to the summer of 2026, as America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary. The country is led by a convicted felon and white supremacist—who has garnered the support of over 80 million Americans. This leadership is characterized by sycophants and compliance, as congressional members appear to surrender their responsibilities to the executive branch. The nation is embroiled in a self-chosen conflict with Iran, resulting in the tragic loss of 13 American lives to date.

A complicit Republican Congress allows the political landscape to deteriorate further. A politically compromised Supreme Court has undermined the Voting Rights Act, enabling states, particularly in the South and Midwest, to manipulate district lines mid-decade in a blatant act of racial discrimination aimed at diminishing Black representation in Congress. Southern states, eager to comply with this new norm, have rushed to implement redistricting, with Louisiana even suspending primary voting mid-process.

In this context of hardship and division, the reflections of Frederick Douglass resonate profoundly. He stated, "I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us." This sentiment underscores the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality, drawing a stark contrast between the celebrations of independence and the realities faced by black and brown communities in America today.

In considering the pride of my hometown and the challenges facing America today, it is clear that civic pride must be harnessed to address the issues of our time. As we reflect on our past, we must engage in meaningful dialogue about our future, advocating for an inclusive and equitable society that values all voices.

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If Republicans maintain control of both houses of Congress, Trump will have unwavering support from a compliant legislature.

What does this mean for the rest of the country? Trump and congressional Republicans will implement their vision for America as planned. No Democratic president or Congress will easily undo the changes made by this administration, whether over two terms or just one. They will have two more years to establish policies and laws that may take decades to reverse. Much like the First Order in Star Wars, the Trumpian order could become complete. However, this is not a movie, and we do not live in a galaxy far, far away.