Category: Politics

Political news and coverage

  • We asked attendees at Mikie Sherrill’s inaugural ball four questions about her. Here’s what they said.

    html,body{margin:0}.inno :where(*:not(svg,svg *,.inno-no-reset,.inno-no-reset *),use){all:revert;margin:0;padding:0;border:0;list-style:none}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:100;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-ThinWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-ThinWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:100;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-ThinItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-ThinItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:300;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-LightWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-LightWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:300;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-LightItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-LightItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:normal;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-RegularWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-RegularWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-RegularItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-RegularItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:500;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-MediumWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-MediumWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-MediumItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-MediumItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:600;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-SemiBoldWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-SemiBoldWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:600;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-SemiBoldItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-SemiBoldItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:700;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BoldWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BoldWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BoldItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BoldItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:900;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BlackWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BlackWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:900;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BlackItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BlackItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Text”;font-weight:normal;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-RegularWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-RegularWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Text”;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-RegularItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-RegularItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Text”;font-weight:bold;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-BoldWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-BoldWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Text”;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-BoldItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-BoldItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Grot 10″;font-weight:normal;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-RegularWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-RegularWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Grot 10″;font-weight:500;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-MediumWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-MediumWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Grot 10″;font-weight:bold;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-ExtraboldWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-ExtraboldWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Grot12″;font-weight:300;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot12Condensed-LightWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot12Condensed-LightWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Grot12″;font-weight:600;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot12Condensed-SemiboldWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot12Condensed-SemiboldWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}body.is-scroll-locked{overflow:hidden;height:100%}.inno{–color-background: #ffffff;–color-background-secondary: #f4f1eb;–color-accent: #004e96;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-primary: #222222;–color-text-link: #1a6aff;–color-text-secondary: #595760;–color-text-tertiary: #808284;–color-text-accent: #004e96;–color-faint: #dcdcdc;–color-mask: rgba(34, 34, 34, 0.8);-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;background:var(–color-background);color:var(–color-text-primary);padding-block-end:64px;overflow:clip;font-size:14px;line-height:1}.inno-mode–dark{–color-background: #222222;–color-background-secondary: #595760;–color-accent: #8dd7f7;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-primary: #ffffff;–color-text-secondary: #dcdcdc;–color-text-tertiary: #808284;–color-text-link: #1a6aff;–color-faint: #595760;–color-mask: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8)}.inno–lite.inno-color–purple{–color-accent: #7b2589;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #7b2589}.inno–lite.inno-color–pink{–color-accent: #cd0785;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #cd0785}.inno–lite.inno-color–red{–color-accent: #e11b22;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #e11b22}.inno–lite.inno-color–orange{–color-accent: #e66a1f;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #e66a1f}.inno–lite.inno-color–yellow{–color-accent: #f0af13;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #f0af13}.inno–lite.inno-color–green{–color-accent: #00a253;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #00a253}.inno–lite.inno-color–teal{–color-accent: #00a69e;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #00a69e}.inno–lite.inno-color–light-gray{–color-accent: #dcdcdc;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #dcdcdc}.inno–lite.inno-color–light-blue{–color-accent: #8dd7f7;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #8dd7f7}.inno–lite.inno-color–blue{–color-accent: #004e96;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #004e96}.inno–lite.inno-color–black{–color-accent: #222222;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #222222}.inno–lite.inno-color–white{–color-accent: #ffffff;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #ffffff}.inno–lite.inno-color–white,.inno–lite.inno-color–black{–color-accent: #004e96;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #222222}.inno–lite.inno-color–white.inno-mode–dark,.inno–lite.inno-color–black.inno-mode–dark{–color-accent: #8dd7f7;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #ffffff}.inno–widget,.inno–embed{overflow:hidden;padding-block-end:0}.inno–widget .inno-layout–content>*,.inno–embed .inno-layout–content>*{max-width:none}.inno-anchorable:before{content:””;display:block;height:calc(var(–nav-height, 0) + 10px);margin:calc(0px – (var(–nav-height, 0) + 10px)) 0 0}.inno-spanner{background-color:#dcdcdc;box-shadow:4px 0 0 #dcdcdc,-4px 0 0 #dcdcdc;color:#fff;padding:1px 0;margin:0 5px;box-decoration-break:clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;color:#222}.inno-spanner–error,.inno-spanner–error-invalid-symbol{background-color:#fff;border:3px dashed #e11b22;box-shadow:none;padding-left:4px;padding-right:4px}body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless){overflow:hidden;width:100vw;height:100vh}@supports(width: 100dvw){body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless){width:100dvw}}@supports(height: 100dvh){body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless){height:100dvh}}body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless) .global-app-bar,body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless) .footer,body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless) .footer-wrapper{display:none}body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless) #inq-article-completion{height:0px}.inno{–gutter: calc(50vw – 325px)}.inno *{box-sizing:border-box}.inno-layout–content>*{max-width:min(650px,100vw – 32px);margin-inline:auto}.inno-layout–align-full{max-width:100%}.inno-layout–align-wide{max-width:min(1250px,100vw – 32px);margin-inline:auto}.inno-layout–align-default{max-width:min(650px,100vw – 32px);margin-inline:auto}@media(min-width: 768px){.inno-layout–align-left{float:left;margin-inline-start:var(–gutter);margin-inline-end:24px;width:301px;margin-block-end:16px;padding-top:6px}}@media(min-width: 960px){.inno-layout–align-left{margin-inline-start:calc(var(–gutter) – clamp(0px,var(–gutter) – 100px,160px))}}@media(min-width: 768px){.inno-layout–align-right{float:right;width:301px;margin-inline-start:24px;margin-inline-end:var(–gutter);margin-block-end:16px;padding-top:5px}}@media(min-width: 960px){.inno-layout–align-right{margin-inline-end:calc(var(–gutter) – clamp(0px,var(–gutter) – 100px,160px))}}.inno-layout–stack>*+*{margin-block-start:24px}.inno-layout–stack-tight>*+*{margin-block-start:10px}.inno-layout–stack-loose>*+*{margin-block-start:30px}*+.inno-layout–isolate{margin-block-start:48px}.inno-layout–isolate+*{margin-block-start:48px}.inno-adbox{max-height:400px;transition:max-height .4s ease-in-out,padding .4s ease-in-out,margin .4s ease-in-out;overflow:hidden}.inno-adbox.is-hidden{max-height:0;margin:0;padding:0}.inno-adbox__label{display:block;margin:0 auto 8px;text-align:center;font-size:12px;color:#808284;text-transform:uppercase}.inno-ad__ad{margin-inline:auto;background-color:#f4f1eb;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;overflow:hidden;width:300px;height:250px}@media(min-width: 768px)and (max-width: 1022px){.inno-ad__ad{width:728px;height:90px}}@media(min-width: 1023px){.inno-ad__ad{height:auto;width:fit-content;min-width:728px;min-height:90px;max-width:970px;max-height:250px}}.inno-ad__ad–small{width:300px;height:250px;min-height:auto;min-width:auto}.inno-ad__ad iframe{position:unset !important}.inno-ad__ad .cnx-content-wrapper{position:relative !important}.inno-ad__ad .celtra-ad-inline-host,.inno-ad__ad .celtra-ad-inline-host *{position:relative !important;overflow:hidden !important}.inno-ad__placeholder{text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:bold;font-size:16px;color:#222}@media(min-width: 1200px){.inno-ad__placeholder{padding:120px 0}}.inno{–sticky-height: 52px}body.is-open-appendix{overflow:hidden;height:100%}.inno-appendix__heading{color:var(–color-text-primary);z-index:1;box-sizing:border-box;font-family:”Grot12″,sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:bold;font-size:18px;line-height:32px;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(220,220,220,0);transition:max-width .5s,border-color .5s,background-color .5s,color .5s}.inno-appendix__heading–stickable{position:sticky;z-index:20;top:0;left:0;right:0}.inno-appendix__heading.is-sticking{background-color:var(–color-background-secondary)}.inno-appendix__heading.is-expandable{cursor:pointer}.inno-appendix__heading.is-expandable .inno-icon{opacity:1}.inno-appendix__heading.is-expandable:hover{color:var(–color-accent)}.inno-appendix__heading.is-expandable:hover .inno-icon__stroke{stroke:var(–color-accent)}.inno-appendix__heading .inno-icon{opacity:0;transition:.25s transform ease-in-out,.25s opacity ease-in-out}.is-open-appendix .inno-appendix__heading .inno-icon{transform:rotate(-180deg)}.inno-appendix__heading-content{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;padding:10px 16px;box-sizing:border-box;background-color:var(–color-background-secondary);transition:background-color .5s}.inno-appendix__static-content{position:relative;transition:max-height .4s ease-in-out;overflow:hidden;margin-block-start:0;margin-block-end:32px}.inno-appendix__static-content.is-collapsed{max-height:200px;overflow:hidden}.inno-appendix__static-content.is-collapsed:after{content:””;position:absolute;z-index:2;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;width:100%;height:50px;background-image:linear-gradient(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), rgb(255, 255, 255))}.inno-appendix__fixed-content{position:fixed;z-index:19;background-color:var(–color-background);top:52px;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;overflow-y:scroll;transform:translate(0, -100vh);transition:transform .4s ease-in-out;margin-block-start:0}.is-open-appendix .inno-appendix__fixed-content{transform:translate(0, 0)}.inno-appendix__item{position:relative;font-size:16px;line-height:1.4}.inno-appendix__item a{display:block;position:relative;padding:10px 0px;padding-left:30px}.inno-appendix__item a:before{content:””;position:absolute;z-index:2;top:20px;left:10px;width:11px;height:11px;transform:translate(0%, -50%);border-radius:50%;background-color:var(–color-accent)}.inno-appendix__item a:after{content:””;position:absolute;top:0px;left:15px;width:1px;height:100%;background-color:var(–color-faint)}.inno-appendix__item-link{text-decoration:none;color:var(–color-text-primary);transition:color .2s ease-in}.inno-appendix__item-link:hover{color:var(–color-text-link)}.inno-appendix__item-detail{color:#808284;display:block}.inno-appendix__items{padding:0px 16px;box-sizing:border-box}.inno-appendix__items .inno-appendix__item:last-child a:after{height:50%}.inno-button.inno-appendix__button{position:absolute;z-index:5;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;width:max-content;margin:auto;opacity:0}.inno-appendix__static-content.is-collapsed .inno-button.inno-appendix__button{pointer-events:all;opacity:1}.inno-mode–dark .inno-appendix__static-content.is-collapsed:after{background-image:linear-gradient(rgba(34, 34, 34, 0), #222222)}.inno-body__error{color:var(–color-text-primary);padding:24px;border:3px dashed #e11b22;font-family:monospace;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:16px}.inno-body__error-head{display:block;font-weight:bold}.inno-button{position:relative;display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;align-items:center;gap:8px;box-sizing:border-box;text-decoration:none;border-radius:4px;cursor:pointer;pointer-events:auto;transition:background-color .4s ease-in-out,border-color .4s ease-in-out,color .4s ease-in-out;background-color:var(–color-accent);color:var(–color-over-accent)}.inno-button:focus{outline:solid 4px var(–color-text-tertiary)}.inno-button:disabled{pointer-events:none}.inno-button–primary:hover{background-color:var(–color-text-primary);color:var(–color-background)}.inno-button–primary:disabled{background-color:var(–color-text-secondary);color:var(–color-text-tertiary);pointer-events:none}.inno-button–secondary{background-color:var(–color-background);color:var(–color-text-primary);border:solid 1px var(–color-accent)}.inno-button–secondary:hover{background-color:var(–color-accent);color:var(–color-over-accent);border:solid 1px var(–color-accent)}.inno-button–secondary:disabled{border-color:var(–color-text-tertiary);color:var(–color-text-tertiary)}.inno-button–minimal{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);color:var(–color-text-primary);padding:8px}.inno-button–minimal:hover{background-color:var(–color-accent);color:var(–color-over-accent)}.inno-button–minimal:disabled{background-color:var(–color-text-secondary);color:var(–color-text-tertiary);pointer-events:none}.inno-button–large{padding:16px 40px}.inno-button–medium{padding:10px 24px}.inno-button–small{padding:8px 16px}.inno-button–round{border-radius:99px}.inno-button–round.inno-button–small{padding:8px}.inno-button–round.inno-button–medium{padding:10px}.inno-button–round.inno-button–large{padding:16px}.inno-button__label{font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-weight:700;line-height:1.2em;flex-grow:0;z-index:1}.inno-button–large .inno-button__label{font-size:20px}.inno-button–medium .inno-button__label{font-size:18px}.inno-button–small .inno-button__label{font-size:16px}.inno-button–has-image .inno-button__label{text-align:center}.inno-button__image{margin:0 auto;object-fit:contain}.inno-byline{border-block:1px solid var(–color-faint);padding-block:16px;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5}.inno-byline–center{border-block:none;padding-block:0}@media(min-width: 768px){.inno-byline{font-size:16px}}.inno-byline__content{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:12px}.inno-byline–center .inno-byline__content{flex-direction:column;text-align:center}.inno-byline__text{flex:1 1 auto}.inno-byline .inno-gift{flex:0 0 auto}.inno-byline__timestamp-date{color:var(–color-text-primary)}.inno-byline__timestamp-label{color:var(–color-text-secondary)}.inno-byline__authors{color:var(–color-text-primary, #222222);line-height:1.5em;text-wrap-style:balance}.inno-byline__author{display:inline}.inno-byline__author-link,.inno-byline__authors a{color:var(–color-text-primary, #222222);text-decoration:none;transition:color .4s ease-in-out}.inno-byline__author-link:hover,.inno-byline__authors a:hover{color:var(–color-text-link, #004e96)}.inno-caption{color:var(–color-text-secondary);font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5}.inno-caption a{color:inherit;box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 var(–color-text-secondary);transition:color .25s ease,box-shadow .25s ease;text-decoration:none}.inno-caption a:hover{color:var(–color-text-link);box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 var(–color-text-link)}.inno-caption__caption-text{display:block;text-wrap:pretty}.inno-caption__credit{color:var(–color-text-tertiary);display:block}.inno-chat__content{display:flex;flex-direction:row}@media(min-width: 850px){.inno-chat__content{margin-inline-start:-90px}}.inno-chat__cite{font-style:normal}.inno-chat__body{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(–color-accent);padding:20px 20px 20px 10px;margin-left:10px;position:relative;background:var(–color-background)}.inno-chat__body>*:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.inno-chat__body::before{content:” “;position:absolute;top:-1px;left:-7px;border:1px solid var(–color-accent);border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;background:var(–color-background);width:20px;height:20px;transform:skewX(30deg)}.inno-orientation–right .inno-chat__content{flex-direction:row-reverse}.inno-orientation–right .inno-chat__content .inno-chat__body{margin-left:0px;margin-right:10px}.inno-orientation–right .inno-chat__content .inno-chat__body::before{transform:skewX(-30deg);border-right-style:solid;border-left-style:none;left:auto;right:-7px}@media(min-width: 850px){.inno-orientation–right .inno-chat__content{margin-inline-start:0;margin-inline-end:-90px}}.inno-chat__portrait{position:relative;width:80px;height:80px;flex:0 0 80px}.inno-chat__portrait .inno-image{height:100%}.inno-chat__portrait .inno-image__img{position:absolute;object-fit:cover;width:100%;height:100%;border-radius:100%}.inno-chat__name{position:relative;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:18px;color:var(–color-text-primary);font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:8px}.inno-chat__label{position:relative;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;color:var(–color-text-tertiary);margin-bottom:10px}.inno-chat__label a{transition:box-shadow .25s ease;color:var(–color-text-link);text-decoration:none}.inno-chat__label a:hover{box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 var(–color-text-link)}.inno-chat.inno-color–red .inno-chat__body,.inno-chat.inno-color–red .inno-chat__body::before{border-color:#e11b22}.inno-chat.inno-color–red .inno-chat__name{color:#e11b22}.inno-chat.inno-color–red .inno-chat__label a{color:#e11b22}.inno-chat.inno-color–red .inno-chat__label a:hover{box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 #e11b22}.inno-chat.inno-color–blue .inno-chat__body,.inno-chat.inno-color–blue .inno-chat__body::before{border-color:#004e96}.inno-chat.inno-color–blue .inno-chat__name{color:#004e96}.inno-chat.inno-color–blue .inno-chat__label a{color:#004e96}.inno-chat.inno-color–blue .inno-chat__label a:hover{box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 #004e96}.inno-chat.inno-color–orange .inno-chat__body,.inno-chat.inno-color–orange .inno-chat__body::before{border-color:#e66a1f}.inno-chat.inno-color–orange .inno-chat__name{color:#e66a1f}.inno-chat.inno-color–orange .inno-chat__label a{color:#e66a1f}.inno-chat.inno-color–orange .inno-chat__label a:hover{box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 #e66a1f}.inno-chat.inno-color–green .inno-chat__body,.inno-chat.inno-color–green .inno-chat__body::before{border-color:#00a253}.inno-chat.inno-color–green .inno-chat__name{color:#00a253}.inno-chat.inno-color–green .inno-chat__label a{color:#00a253}.inno-chat.inno-color–green .inno-chat__label a:hover{box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 #00a253}.inno-chat.inno-color–pink .inno-chat__body,.inno-chat.inno-color–pink .inno-chat__body::before{border-color:#cd0785}.inno-chat.inno-color–pink .inno-chat__name{color:#cd0785}.inno-chat.inno-color–pink .inno-chat__label a{color:#cd0785}.inno-chat.inno-color–pink .inno-chat__label a:hover{box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 #cd0785}.inno-chat.inno-color–purple .inno-chat__body,.inno-chat.inno-color–purple .inno-chat__body::before{border-color:#7b2589}.inno-chat.inno-color–purple .inno-chat__name{color:#7b2589}.inno-chat.inno-color–purple .inno-chat__label a{color:#7b2589}.inno-chat.inno-color–purple .inno-chat__label a:hover{box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 #7b2589}.inno-credits{font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif}.inno-credits__header{color:var(–color-text-primary);font-size:16px;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.2;border-bottom:1px solid var(–color-faint);padding-bottom:4px;margin-bottom:8px}.inno-credits__roles{display:grid;gap:8px;color:var(–color-text-secondary);font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;text-align:pretty}@media(min-width: 768px){.inno-credits__roles{grid-template-columns:50% 50%}}.inno-gift{display:none}.inno-gift–default{justify-content:center}.inno-gift–default.is-available{display:flex}.inno-gift–default .inno-button{font-size:24px;padding:8px;min-width:200px;margin:0px auto}.inno-gift–minimal.is-available{display:inline-block}.inno-gift–minimal .inno-button{display:flex;align-items:center;font-size:16px;line-height:16px}.inno-gift–minimal .inno-button__label{font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:currentColor;display:none}@media(min-width: 600px){.inno-gift–minimal .inno-button__label{display:inline-block}}.inno-gift–minimal .inno-icon{display:inline-block}.inno-gift.is-available{display:block}.is-app .inno-gift{display:none}.inno-gift .inno-icon–loading{animation:spin 1s linear forwards infinite}.inno-gift .inno-icon{display:none}.inno-gift [data-state=ready] .inno-icon–gift{display:initial}.inno-gift [data-state=loading] .inno-icon–loading{display:initial}.inno-gift [data-state=complete] .inno-icon–tickmark{display:initial}.inno-gift [data-state=error] .inno-icon–cross{display:initial}.inno-gift-toast-receiver{display:none}@keyframes spin{0%{rotate:0deg}100%{rotate:360deg}}.inno-graphic__iframe,.inno-graphic__datawrapper{width:100%}.inno-heading{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:24px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2;color:var(–color-text-primary);scroll-margin-top:calc(var(–sticky-height) + 16px);text-wrap:balance}@media(min-width: 768px){.inno-heading{font-size:36px}}.inno-heading–chapter{font-weight:300;border-bottom:1px solid var(–color-text-primary);text-transform:uppercase}.inno-layout–stack>*+.inno-heading{margin-block-start:48px}.inno-layout–stack>.inno-heading:has(+*){margin-block-end:-12px}.inno-layout–stack-tight>*+.inno-heading{margin-block-start:20px}.inno-layout–stack-tight>.inno-heading:has(+*){margin-block-end:-5px}.inno-layout–stack-loose>*+.inno-heading{margin-block-start:60px}.inno-layout–stack-loose>.inno-heading:has(+*){margin-block-end:-15px}.inno-hero{margin-block-start:0}.inno-hero–has-media .inno-hero__content{padding-bottom:72px}@media(min-width: 960px){.inno-hero–has-media .inno-hero__content{padding-bottom:128px}}.inno-color–white .inno-hero,.inno-mode–light .inno-hero–style-transparent{–color-accent: #ffffff;–color-over-accent: #222222}.inno-color–black .inno-hero,.inno-mode–dark .inno-hero–style-transparent{–color-accent: #222222;–color-over-accent: #ffffff}.inno-hero–style-transparent .inno-hero__content{background:rgba(0,0,0,0)}.inno-hero–layout-above{display:flex;flex-direction:column-reverse;background:var(–color-accent)}.inno-hero–layout-above .inno-hero__content{padding:24px 0}.inno-hero–layout-above .inno-hero__media{max-width:80%;margin:0 auto;padding-top:24px}.inno-hero–layout-above .inno-hero__media>*{max-width:350px}.inno-hero–layout-above .inno-hero__media .inno-caption-text{display:none}.inno-hero__content{padding-block:24px;text-align:center;background:var(–color-accent);color:var(–color-over-accent)}@media(min-width: 960px){.inno-hero__content{padding-block:32px}}.inno-hero__eyebrow{font-family:”Grot12″,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;padding:5px 8px;background:var(–color-over-accent);color:var(–color-accent);width:max-content;text-decoration:none;line-height:2}@media(min-width: 768px){.inno-hero__eyebrow{font-size:18px}}.inno-hero__headline{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:40px;font-weight:600;line-height:1;text-wrap:balance}@media(min-width: 768px){.inno-hero__headline{font-size:52px}}.inno-hero__subheadline{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:20px;line-height:1.3;text-wrap:balance}@media(min-width: 768px){.inno-hero__subheadline{font-size:24px}}.inno-hero__media{position:relative;z-index:2;margin-top:-48px}@media(min-width: 960px){.inno-hero__media{margin-top:-96px}}.inno-hover{position:relative;cursor:pointer;border:1px var(–color-accent) solid;padding:3px 4px;transition:border .4s ease-in-out;box-sizing:border-box}@media(min-width: 768px){.inno-hover{cursor:help}}.inno-hover:hover{border:1px var(–color-accent) solid}.inno-hover__box{position:fixed;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;z-index:20;background-color:var(–color-background);pointer-events:none;transform:translateY(100%);transition:transform .4s ease-in-out;padding:16px;border-top:1px solid var(–color-accent);white-space:normal;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5}@media(min-width: 768px){.inno-hover__box{position:absolute;top:100%;width:200px;left:-1px;right:0;bottom:auto;margin:auto;max-width:250px;padding:6px;opacity:0;transition:opacity .4s ease-in-out;transform:none;border:1px solid var(–color-accent)}}.inno-hover.is-visible .inno-hover__box{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}.inno-icon{display:inline-block;width:1.2em;height:1.2em;fill:currentColor}.inno-icon–white{fill:#fff}.inno-icon–black{fill:#222}.inno-icon–accent{fill:var(–color-accent)}.inno-icon–over-accent{fill:var(–color-over-accent)}.inno-icon__stroke{fill:rgba(0,0,0,0);stroke:currentColor;stroke-width:2px;vector-effect:non-scaling-stroke}.inno-icon–white .inno-icon__stroke{stroke:#fff}.inno-icon–black .inno-icon__stroke{stroke:#222}.inno-icon–accent .inno-icon__stroke{stroke:var(–color-accent)}.inno-icon–over-accent .inno-icon__stroke{stroke:var(–color-over-accent)}.inno-image__img{width:100%;display:block}.inno-looping-video__video{width:100%}.inno-p{-webkit-font-smoothing:subpixel-antialiased;-mox-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;color:#222;color:var(–color-text-primary);font-family:”Inquirer Text”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:18px;line-height:1.666666;white-space:pre-line;text-wrap:pretty}@media(min-width: 600px){.inno-p{font-size:20px;line-height:1.6}}.inno-p–has-dropcap:first-letter{margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0;font-family:”Inquirer Headline”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:3.2em;float:left;font-weight:bold;line-height:1;color:var(–color-text-accent)}@-moz-document url-prefix(){.inno-p–has-dropcap:first-letter{margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:0px}}@media(min-width: 600px){.inno-p–has-dropcap:first-letter{font-size:5.3em;margin-top:-3px;margin-bottom:-10px}@-moz-document url-prefix(){.inno-p–has-dropcap:first-letter{margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px}}}.inno-p a{transition:box-shadow .25s ease;color:var(–color-text-link);text-decoration:none}.inno-p a:hover{box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 var(–color-text-link)}.inno-p__endmark{display:inline-block;height:1.1em;width:1.1em;margin-left:5px;vertical-align:text-bottom;margin-bottom:2px;fill:var(–color-text-accent)}.inno-premium{padding:19px 26px 22px 8px;color:var(–color-text-primary);font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:18px;line-height:1;font-weight:normal;background-color:var(–color-background-secondary)}.inno-premium .inno-icon{fill:#f0af13;width:24px;margin-right:7px}.inno-premium__header{display:flex}.inno-premium__hed{font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;font-size:16px;color:var(–color-text-primary);padding:3px 0 4px;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;text-wrap:pretty}.inno-mode–dark .inno-premium__hed{color:#fff}.inno-premium__message{font-weight:500;line-height:22px;font-size:16px;color:var(–color-text-secondary);font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;margin-left:32px;text-wrap:pretty}.inno-tags{border-top:1px solid var(–color-faint);padding-block:12px}.inno-tags__title{font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal}.inno-tags__buttons{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px}.inno-tags__buttons .inno-button{flex:0 0 auto}.inno-video{width:auto}.inno-video__video{width:100%}.inno-toast{position:fixed;bottom:16px;left:0;right:0;width:max-content;margin:0px auto;z-index:120;display:flex;align-content:center;justify-content:center;text-align:center;font-size:20px;border-radius:5px;background-color:var(–color-text-primary);color:var(–color-background);padding:24px 48px;box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(89,87,96,.1),0 3px 6px rgba(89,87,96,.1);translate:0% calc(100% + 18px);transition:translate .4s;opacity:0}.inno-toast b,.inno-toast strong{font-weight:normal}.inno-toast.is-active{translate:0 0;opacity:1}

    We asked attendees at Mikie Sherrill’s inaugural ball four questions about her.

    Here’s what they said.

    Mikie Sherrill held an unconventional inaugural ball inside the American Dream mall on Tuesday.
    Mikie Sherrill held an unconventional inaugural ball inside the American Dream mall on Tuesday.Aliya Schneider / Staff

    Mikie Sherrill’s inaugural ball was unconventional, but it was very Jersey.

    She held it at the American Dream mega-mall in East Rutherford, amid open-for-business stores, an indoor ski resort, roller coasters, a water park, restaurants, and children’s attractions.

    Sherrill’s party was held where there’s usually an ice skating rink — “Across from Nickelodeon," one event worker provided as instructions.

    Guests in tuxedos and ball gowns roamed past pretzel shops, toy stores, and life-size versions of children’s characters – and even through a candy shop – while searching for the entry.

    Once they found the coat check, attendees were greeted by dancers sporting military-themed costumes with high heels in one of many nods to Sherrill’s experience as a Navy helicopter pilot.

    story continues after advertisement

    Sherrill joined New Jersey hip-hop group Naughty by Nature on stage, a Bollywood group performed, and hits from Lizzo and Earth, Wind & Fire, blasted. On their way out, partygoers could pick up “Taylor hams” or “pork rolls” from workers wearing “flight crew” T-shirts.

    “May you always be able to have a great future for your kids and your family and get maybe a week at the Shore every year,” Sherrill said in a toast in front of the crowd.

    Over the course of the night, about 2,500 people poured out of the dance floor and mingled in front of storefronts and a cell phone case booth. The Inquirer was there to talk with the new governor’s supporters. Here’s some of what they said.

    What are you looking forward to in Sherrill’s administration?

    John Currie
    Passaic County Democratic Party chair

    I'm looking for her to continue some of the things that Gov. Murphy has done.

    John Walsh
    Influencer

    I'm looking forward to seeing how she differs herself from Phil Murphy in a positive way. I don't think Phil did a bad job, but I'd like to see a lot of things change.

    story continues after advertisement

    Catie McNulty
    Special education teacher in Point Pleasant

    I'm looking forward to Mikie moving our state in a direction that supports affordable housing for everybody. I work closely with groups with developmental disabilities, so focusing on improving Medicaid and ensuring that our members and our adults with developmental disabilities don't lose out on services due to cuts at the federal level.

    Robert Speer
    President, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 827

    I'm hoping that she will work with unions to bring good paying jobs to the state of New Jersey and contracts to the people in those union jobs. …. She, I believe, will represent the middle class very well, and I'm hoping she will.

    Maritza Walton
    Business owner in Bloomfield

    I'm looking forward to her improving expenses for business owners, especially our utilities, and the different fees that business owners have to pay, especially small-business owners.

    What is an obstacle she might face?

    Amber Reed
    Co-Executive director of AAPI New Jersey

    New Jersey did not become more transparent or accountable after Murphy and change comes really slowly here. Even though she says she's committed to making government more transparent and accountable to the people, I can see her running against some entrenched culture around that in New Jersey.

    Tara Buss
    Mayor of Colts Neck

    She is dealing with a variety of counties with a variety of needs. So I think she'll struggle with different counties and their different needs. We may have different needs in Colts Neck, New Jersey, than she may have in towns that she's from. So I think that's going to be a challenge.

    Rhina Cavarez
    Worked on Ras Baraka and Mikie Sherrill’s gubernatorial campaigns

    She must face our own citizens … 1.4 million people voted for Jack. That means 1.4 million believe that Trump is doing the right thing, which is going to be a problem for the rest of us.

    Falguni Pandya
    New Jersey-India commissioner and AAPI commissioner

    We do have high real estate taxes, some affordability issues, so I think she has to get the financial house in order first.

    Kris Ramanathan
    Entrepreneur

    I think the obstacle she's going to face is the budget issue. I think it's going to be challenging, because there are so many things that we need in New Jersey, and with the Republicans not doing anything with the federal government, basically abdicating on any of their responsibilities, I think it's going to be a huge obstacle for her to find the money to do all the things that I know she wants to do.

    What is something you know about Sherrill?

    Kathy Bryant
    Clinical data manager

    I do know she's a humble person. I met her coming from the Democratic convention. We were on the same plane, and we just spoke casually, and she's very easy to speak to. … You could have a conversation with her, and she was really listening to you. So it was nice to be able to say, ‘Oh, you might be our future governor.’

    John Walsh
    Influencer

    Her name is not Mikie. It's Rebecca, and a lot of people don't know that. And I have to out her on that. I told a couple people that today, and they had no idea … when she swore her name and gave the oath, I was like, I'm surprised she didn't say Rebecca.

    Catie McNulty
    Special education teacher in Point Pleasant, New Jersey

    She's an outstanding bartender at D’Jais in Belmar, New Jersey.

    Amber Reed
    Co-Executive director of AAPI New Jersey

    We know her as a very caring mom in our community, as well as an elected leader. She was one of the first electeds who showed up for us as Asian Americans during the pandemic when we were experiencing anti Asian hate, and she brought a lot of real human empathy to that moment.

    Thomas Duch
    Bergen County administrator and counsel

    I just know that she was a very diligent congresswoman. I know that her office was known for constituent service, for constituent response. The state of New Jersey is not really known for constituent response. … so if she brings that mentality, that kind of a service mentality, to state government, by way of example, I think that it will be contagious, and it will help, and we will improve our customer service.

    What is something you want to know about Sherrill?

    Rhina Cavarez
    Worked on Ras Baraka and Mikie Sherrill’s gubernatorial campaigns

    Are you running for president in 2028?

    John Walsh
    Influencer

    When she did Colbert and she (said she) gave birth in a taxi, that was shocking to me. And I did a lot of TikToks, I met her, and I was like, why did that not come out during the campaign? So I'm sure there's more minute stories like that that are waiting and I'm looking forward to hearing about them.

    Pulkit Desai
    Parsippany mayor

    What kind of music she likes. What does she do to decompress?

    Kris Ramanathan
    Entrepreneur

    How many G's she can handle in a helicopter, what pressure she's gotten to.

    Kathy Bryant
    Clinical data manager

    I just want to see how she's going to move forward with ICE. Are we going to maintain [New Jersey’s] sanctuary state [policy]? Are we going to prohibit them from coming into our churches, into our schools? Are we going to continue to be our brother's keepers, which I believe she will be.

    Falguni Pandya
    New Jersey-India commissioner and AAPI commissioner

    How she does it all, like what makes her so effective and so productive and so successful. If we were to look at her as a role model, what would she teach young people coming into politics, young people wanting to be in it, or not even young necessarily, but people who are actually wanting to follow her footsteps.

    Staff Contributors

    • Reporting, Photography, and Digital Editing: Aliya Schneider
    • Editing: Julie Busby, Ariella Cohen

    (()=>{var Z=(e,t)=>()=>(t||e((t={exports:{}}).exports,t),t.exports);var T=Z(r=>{var _={0:”Jan.”,1:”Feb.”,2:”March”,3:”April”,4:”May”,5:”June”,6:”July”,7:”Aug.”,8:”Sept.”,9:”Oct.”,10:”Nov.”,11:”Dec.”};function x(e){return e===void 0&&(e=new Date),_[e.getMonth()]}var K={0:”Jan”,1:”Feb”,2:”Mar”,3:”Apr”,4:”May”,5:”Jun”,6:”Jul”,7:”Aug”,8:”Sep”,9:”Oct”,10:”Nov”,11:”Dec”};function L(e){return e===void 0&&(e=new Date),K[e.getMonth()]}function s(e){return e==null}function M(e){return typeof e==”number”&&isFinite(e)}function f(e){return M(e)&&Math.floor(e)===e}var Q=[“one”,”two”,”three”,”four”,”five”,”six”,”seven”,”eight”,”nine”],X=[“million”,”billion”,”trillion”,”quadrillion”,”quintillion”,”sextillion”,”septillion”,”octillion”,”nonillion”,”decillion”],b=[“th”,”st”,”nd”,”rd”,”th”,”th”,”th”,”th”,”th”,”th”],ee=[11,12,13];function S(e){if(s(e))return””;var t=+e;return f(t)?ee.indexOf(t%100)>-1?b[0]:b[t%10]:””}var te=[“first”,”second”,”third”,”fourth”,”fifth”,”sixth”,”seventh”,”eighth”,”ninth”],ne=new RegExp(/s+([^s]*)s*$/);r.apdate=function(e){return e===void 0&&(e=new Date),x(e)+” “+e.getDate()+”, “+e.getFullYear()},r.apdatetab=function(e){return e===void 0&&(e=new Date),L(e)+” “+e.getDate()+”, “+e.getFullYear()},r.apmonth=x,r.apmonthtab=L,r.apnumber=function(e){if(s(e))return””;var t=+e;return f(t)?t=10?e.toString():Q[t-1]:e.toString()},r.aptime=function(e){e===void 0&&(e=new Date);var t,n,i=e.getHours(),o=e.getMinutes(),u=o===0;if(u){if(i===0)return”midnight”;if(i===12)return”noon”}return i0?i:12):(t=”p.m.”,n=i===12?i:i-12),u?n+” “+t:n+”:”+(o<10?"0"+o:o)+" "+t},r.capfirst=function(e){if(s(e))return"";var t=String(e);return""+t.charAt(0).toUpperCase()+t.slice(1)},r.intcomma=function(e){if(s(e))return"";var t,n=+e;return M(n)?((t=n.toString().split("."))[0]=t[0].replace(/B(?=(d{3})+(?!d))/g,","),t.join(".")):e.toString()},r.intword=function(e){if(s(e))return"";var t=+e;if(!f(t))return e.toString();var n=Math.abs(t);if(n<1e6)return e.toString();var i=Math.ceil(Math.log(n+1)/Math.LN10)-1,o=i-i%3,u=t/Math.pow(10,o);return(u=Math.round(10*u)/10)+" "+X[Math.floor(o/3)-2]},r.ordinal=function(e,t){if(t===void 0&&(t=!1),s(e))return"";var n=+e;return f(n)?t&&n/Android|webOS|iPhone|iPad|iPod|BlackBerry|IEMobile|Opera Mini/i.test(navigator.userAgent);var h=(e,t=null,n=null)=>{n||(n=document.querySelector(“head”));let i=document.createElement(“script”);i.type=”text/javascript”,i.src=e,t&&(i.onload=t),n.appendChild(i)},E=()=>(window.PMNdataLayer?.[0]!==void 0&&window.PMNdataLayer[0])?.analytics?.user?.state===”Subscribed”,k=()=>{let t=(window.PMNdataLayer?.[0]!==void 0&&window.PMNdataLayer[0])?.analytics?.user?.state;return window.location.host.includes(“zzz-systest”)||window.location.host.includes(“pmn.arcpublishing.com”)||window.location.host.includes(“stage.fusion.inquirer.com”)||typeof t>”u”},q=()=>{let t=(window.PMNdataLayer?.[0]!==void 0&&window.PMNdataLayer[0])?.analytics?.user?.hasAdsFreeReading;return!!(t&&t==1)},g=()=>window.location.host.includes(“localhost”);var ie=()=>{q()&&document.querySelectorAll(“.js-adbox”).forEach(t=>{t.classList.add(“is-hidden”)})},j={init:()=>{ie()}};var a,v=!1,oe=()=>{a=document.querySelector(“.js-appendix”)},H=()=>{let e=document.querySelector(“.js-appendix-static-content”),t=e.querySelector(“.js-appendix-static-items”).getBoundingClientRect().height;e.classList.remove(“is-collapsed”),e.style.maxHeight=t+”px”},D=()=>{a.classList.contains(“js-appendix-sticky”)&&(a.getBoundingClientRect().top{v=document.querySelector(“.js-appendix-static-content”).getBoundingClientRect().bottom{v&&document.querySelector(“body”).classList.toggle(“is-open-appendix”)},re=()=>{window.addEventListener(“scroll”,()=>{D(),P()}),window.addEventListener(“resize”,()=>{D(),P()}),document.querySelector(“.js-appendix”).addEventListener(“click”,()=>{N()}),document.querySelectorAll(“.js-appendix-expand-static”).forEach(e=>{e.addEventListener(“click”,()=>{H(),window.addEventListener(“resize”,()=>{H()})})}),document.querySelectorAll(“.js-appendix-link”).forEach(e=>{e.addEventListener(“click”,()=>{N()})})},I={init:()=>{oe(),re()}};var c,B,se=()=>{c=document.getElementById(“js-inno-toast”)},ae=e=>{if(!c)return;c.innerHTML=e,c.classList.add(“is-active”);let t=()=>{c.addEventListener(“transitionend”,ce,{once:!0}),c.classList.remove(“is-active”)};clearTimeout(B),B=setTimeout(t,5e3)},ce=()=>{c.innerHTML=””},l={init:()=>{se()},showToast:ae};var m,C=!1,le=async()=>new Promise(e=>{setTimeout(()=>{console.log(“simulating createShareLink for localhost”),e(“https://inquirer.com/interactives”),de()},100)}),de=()=>{let e=document.querySelector(“.js-gift-toast-receiver”);!e||!(e instanceof HTMLElement)||setTimeout(()=>{let t=e?.querySelector(“span”);t&&(t.innerHTML=”Gift link copied to clipboard“)},20)},ue=()=>{let e=window.services?.createShareLink;e&&(m=e),g()&&(m=le),m&&fe()},pe=async e=>{let t=”text/plain”,n=async()=>{try{return await m(window.location.pathname)}catch{e.dataset.state=”error”,l.showToast(“Hmm, we couldn’t generate a gift link…”)}},i=new ClipboardItem({[t]:n()});await navigator.clipboard.write([i]).catch(o=>{console.log(o),l.showToast(“Couldn’t copy to clipboard, try again?”),e.dataset.state=”error”}),l.showToast(“Gift link copied to clipboard!”),e.dataset.state=”complete”},fe=()=>{document.querySelectorAll(“.js-gift”).forEach(t=>{(E()||g()||k())&&t.classList.add(“is-available”)}),document.querySelectorAll(“.js-gift-button”).forEach(t=>{t instanceof HTMLButtonElement&&t.addEventListener(“click”,()=>{t.classList.contains(“disabled”)||(t.dataset.state=”loading”,C=!0,pe(t),setTimeout(()=>{t.dataset.state=”ready”},2e3))})});let e=document.querySelector(“.js-gift-toast-receiver”);!e||!(e instanceof HTMLElement)||me(e)},me=e=>{new MutationObserver(n=>{for(let i of n){let o=[…i.addedNodes].at(0);if(!(o instanceof HTMLElement))return;C&&l.showToast(o.outerHTML)}}).observe(e,{subtree:!0,childList:!0})},F={init:()=>{ue()}};var he=()=>{window.addEventListener(“message”,e=>{if(e.data[“datawrapper-height”]){let t=e.data[“datawrapper-height”];for(let n in t)document.querySelector(`#datawrapper-chart-${n}`).setAttribute(“height”,t[n])}})},ge=()=>{document.querySelectorAll(“.js-datawrapper-graphic”).forEach(e=>{h(`https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/${e.dataset.id}/embed.js`,null,e)})},ve=()=>{window.addEventListener(“message”,e=>{let t=e.data;document.querySelectorAll(`iframe[src*=”${t.id}”]`).forEach(i=>{i.style.height=`${t.height}px`})},!1)},we=()=>{document.querySelectorAll(“.js-pym-graphic”).forEach(e=>{if(typeof window{new window.pym.Parent(e.id,e.dataset.iframe)};typeof window.pym>”u”?h(“https://pym.nprapps.org/pym.v1.min.js”,t):t()}})},$={init:()=>{he(),ge(),we(),ve()}};var p,ye=()=>{document.querySelectorAll(“.js-hover”).forEach(e=>{e.addEventListener(“click”,()=>{z(e)}),e.addEventListener(“mouseenter”,()=>{z(e)}),e.addEventListener(“mouseout”,()=>{O(e)})}),window.addEventListener(“scroll”,()=>{p!==null&&xe()})},xe=()=>{(p>window.scrollY+100||p{O(e)})},z=e=>{e.classList.add(“is-visible”),p=window.scrollY},O=e=>{e.classList.remove(“is-visible”),p=null},R={init:()=>{ye()}};var Le=()=>{},J={init:()=>{Le()}};var d,w,y=!0,be=()=>{d=document.querySelectorAll(“.js-video-autoplay”)},Se=()=>{window.addEventListener(“resize”,()=>{V()}),window.addEventListener(“scroll”,()=>{V()}),d.forEach(e=>{e.addEventListener(“volumechange”,t=>{e.muted!==y&&!A()&&(y=e.muted,Me())})})},V=()=>{let e;d.forEach((t,n)=>{let i=t.getBoundingClientRect(),o=i.height/2;i.y-o&&(e=t)}),e!==w&&(w=e,d.forEach(t=>{t.pause()}),e?e.play():w=null)},Me=()=>{d.forEach(e=>{e.muted=y})},G={init:()=>{be(),d&&Se()}};var W={init:()=>{j.init?.(),I.init?.(),F.init?.(),$.init?.(),R.init?.(),J.init?.(),G.init?.(),l.init?.()}};var Te=()=>{},Y={init:()=>{Te()}};var Ae=document.querySelector(“.js-inno”),U=()=>{W.init(),Y.init()};Ae?U():new MutationObserver((t,n)=>{if(document.querySelector(“.js-inno”)){n.disconnect(),U();return}}).observe(document,{attributes:!0,childList:!0,subtree:!0});})();

  • People in Gaza dig through garbage for things to burn to keep warm — a far cry from Trump’s vision

    People in Gaza dig through garbage for things to burn to keep warm — a far cry from Trump’s vision

    CAIRO — Desperate Palestinians at a garbage dump in a Gaza neighborhood dug with their bare hands for plastic items to burn to keep warm in the cold and damp winter in the enclave, battered by two years of the Israel-Hamas war.

    The scene in the Muwasi area of the city of Khan Younis contrasted starkly with the vision of the territory projected by world leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland, where they inaugurated President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace that will oversee Gaza.

    At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump claimed that “record levels” of humanitarian aid had entered Gaza since the October start of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. His son-in law, Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff triumphantly touted the devastated territory’s development potential.

    A starkly different reality

    In Gaza, months into the truce, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still languish in displacement camps, sheltering in tents and war-ravaged buildings, unable to protect them from the temperatures dropping below 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

    Despite the ceasefire, there are still recurring deadly strikes in Gaza. Israeli tank shelling on Thursday killed four Palestinians east of Gaza City, according to Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of the Shifa Hospital, where the bodies were taken. The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

    Some in Gaza expressed skepticism about Trump’s Board of Peace and whether it would change their grim lives.

    “This committee includes Israelis. I don’t understand, as citizens, how can we understand this situation?” Rami Ghalban, who was displaced from Khan Younis, said Thursday. “The Israelis that inflicted suffering upon us.”

    But grappling with what’s ahead seems futile for others.

    “We are in a position where there are no alternatives,” said Fathi Abu Sultan. “Our situation is miserable.”

    While aid flow into Gaza has significantly increased since the ceasefire, residents say fuel and firewood are in short supply. Prices are exorbitant and searching for firewood is dangerous. Two 13-year-old boys were shot and killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday as they tried to collect firewood, hospital officials said.

    At the Nasser hospital in southern Gaza, dozens of Palestinians gathered Thursday to mourn three Palestinian journalists — including a frequent contributor to Agence France-Presse — killed the day before when an Israeli strike hit their vehicle, according to Gaza health officials.

    The Israeli military said the strike came after it spotted suspects who were operating a drone that posed a threat to its troops.

    Survival means digging through garbage

    For Sanaa Salah, who lives in a tent with her husband and six kids, starting a fire is a critical daily chore so they can cook and keep warm. Her family has barely has enough clothes to keep them warm.

    She said the family cannot afford to buy firewood or gas, and that they are aware of the dangers of burning plastic but have no other choice.

    “Life is very hard,” she said as her family members threw plastic and paper into a fire to keep it burning. “We cannot even have a cup of tea.”

    “This is our life,” she said. “We do not sleep at night from the cold.”

    Firewood is just too expensive, said Aziz Akel. His family has no income and they can’t pay the 7 or 8 shekels (about $2.50) it would cost.

    “My house is gone and my kids were wounded,” he said.

    His daughter, Lina Akel, said he leaves the family’s tent early each morning to look for plastic in the garbage to burn — “the basics of life.”

    Mourners bid farewell to 3 Palestinian journalists

    The three journalists killed Wednesday were filming near a displacement camp in central Gaza, managed by an Egyptian government committee, said Mohammed Mansour, the committee’s spokesperson.

    One of them, Abdul Raouf Shaat, a regular contributor to AFP, was not on assignment for the news agency at the time, it said. A statement from AFP demanded a full investigation.

    Israel has barred international journalists from entering to cover the war, aside from rare guided tours. News organizations rely largely on Palestinian journalists and residents in Gaza to show what is happening on the ground.

    Mourners on Thursday wept over the journalists’ bodies, which were covered in body bags and had press vests placed on their chests.

    More than 470 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the ceasefire began in October, according to Gaza’s health ministry. At least 77 have been killed by Israeli gunfire near a ceasefire line that splits the territory between Israeli-held areas and most of Gaza’s Palestinian population, the ministry says.

    The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.

    What’s next in Gaza?

    While Trump tries to build support for his Board of Peace by mapping out a future for Gaza, more details about what’s ahead were emerging Thursday.

    Ali Shaath, the head of a new, future technocratic government in Gaza, said the Rafah border crossing will open in both directions next week on the Gaza-Egypt border. Israel said in early December it would open the Gaza side of the crossing but has yet to do so.

    Reopening the crossing would make it easier for Palestinians in Gaza to seek medical treatment or visit family in Egypt.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to send $1 billion to the Board of Peace for humanitarian purposes in Gaza if the U.S. unblocks the money. He met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow.

    “We believe that only forming and proper functioning of the Palestinian state can lead to a final settlement of the Middle East conflict,” Putin said.

  • What ICE is doing that’s so controversial

    What ICE is doing that’s so controversial

    It’s not just Minneapolis. In cities across America, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have arrested hundreds of thousands of immigrants and clashed with protesters in what is on its way to becoming one of the largest deportation efforts in U.S. history.

    The White House says it’s deporting both criminals and people who are working in the country illegally.

    But ICE is increasingly unpopular, and it’s getting more headlines for its sometimes-violent tactics than it is for getting supposed bad guys off the streets.

    “They’re going to make a mistake sometimes, too rough with somebody,” President Donald Trump said of ICE. “You know they are rough people.”

    ICE’s reach is only expected to spread. It has been infused with billions more from the Republicans’ tax bill, and the Brennan Center for Justice estimates it will become one of America’s largest police forces. It is spending $100 million to try to hire gun rights supporters and military enthusiasts.

    “By the end of this, almost everyone is going to know someone who had a friend or family member or colleague affected, or who witnessed an arrest happening,” said David Bier, the director of immigration studies at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute. “I think it’s unnerving to see people targeted who don’t seem to be doing anything out of the ordinary, just going to work or doing their jobs.”

    Here’s more about what’s happening:

    What ICE is doing on the streets

    There are about 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. ICE can’t be everywhere all at once, so the agency typically works with local authorities to help arrest people in the country illegally.

    But now agents are on a mission to deport as many people as possible.

    What was once a job largely out of the public eye is now taking place on city streets, parking lots of big-box stores, deep in local neighborhoods, and at churches and workplaces as agents mine federal data and go door-to-door to create what the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute says is an unprecedented show of force in cities.

    Immigration agents have surged into Chicago, Los Angeles, D.C., Minneapolis, and Charlotte, rushing into upscale neighborhoods and shops, country clubs and near schools. Sometimes they are in plain clothes; many times they are masked.

    They’ve been recently empowered by the Supreme Court to stop people based on factors such as race, ethnicity, language or job.

    Some agents are using chokeholds to arrest people; others have been filmed smashing car windows to get at someone. U.S. citizens of color say they’re being asked to show paperwork (including off-duty police officers).

    Trump and his administration say they are targeting “the worst of the worst.” But there’s no evidence migrants commit crimes at a higher rate than Americans, and most migrants arrested don’t have a criminal record, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

    A record number of children are being detained, and data suggests families are being separated, ProPublica finds. The New York Times reported on a Cuban migrant arriving for a check-in with ICE and being immediately separated from her 17-month-old daughter she was breastfeeding and deported.

    “It feels like a member of my family is under attack,” one Charlotte woman told The Washington Post after telling her children’s caregiver to stay at home.

    Trump cracking down hard on protesters

    Communities of activists have sprung up to try to slow or stop arrests and film what’s happening.

    “I’ve been in touch with friends and former students in Minneapolis as well as Chicago, Los Angeles and now, Maine,” Robert Reich, a former labor secretary and prominent Trump critic, wrote this week. “Some have been extraordinarily brave. A few tell me they’ve tailed ICE agents and whistled loudly to warn others of ICE’s whereabouts. Some have sought to block agents from entering schools, courthouses, and clinics. Others have been taking videos to give to the media or use in court.”

    Trump has responded with force. His administration has tried to label protesters as “domestic terrorists” (which legal experts say isn’t an actual designation) and has sought to deploy the National Guard where there are protests. He’s also threatened to send in the military to arrest protesters in Minneapolis. Vice President JD Vance said the ICE agent who killed protester Renée Good has “absolute immunity.” ICE agents are launching tear gas and pointing guns at protesters. The Trump administration has launched criminal investigations into Democratic officials in Minnesota who have criticized ICE.

    Yet for all the conflict, Bier is tracking federal charges of protesters and finds it’s rare, suggesting many of their actions are protected by the First Amendment.

    ICE detentions also controversial

    Trump is building some of largest deportation centers in history, including makeshift facilities and plans by ICE to hold up to 80,000 immigrants in seven large-scale warehouses, The Post reported.

    Conditions can be tough. Some ICE facilities have been described as “inhumane,” with reports of spoiled food, undrinkable water or lights on 24 hours a day. The pro-immigration American Immigration Council writes that ICE is “trapping hundreds of thousands of noncitizens in an increasingly opaque world of remote jails and private prisons.”

    An ICE detainee died in January; witnesses say he was choked, and his death may be classified as a homicide. (The government disputes that account of events.) He is one of dozens who have died in ICE custody since Trump took office a year ago.

    ICE getting harder to defend politically

    Polls show that Trump’s ICE raids have strong support from Republicans.

    “Letting millions of illegal immigrants come to work in the U.S. will depress wages, and we can’t allow that to happen,” says Nick Iacovella with the Coalition for a Prosperous America, a conservative, pro-tariff group that also supports Trump’s mass deportations.

    But a new Economist/YouGov poll finds 47 percent of Americans think ICE is making America less safe, compared with 34 percent who said more safe. And for months now, a majority of Americans have disapproved of how Trump is handling immigration overall, on what used to be his strongest issue. Republicans are particularly concerned mass deportations are hurting them with Latino voters, who helped Trump win the presidency again.

    “For the first time, immigration is maybe having a negative impact on my party,” former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, told Politico this fall.

  • Trump budget office orders review of funds to Democratic-controlled states

    Trump budget office orders review of funds to Democratic-controlled states

    The Trump administration has ordered Cabinet agencies to review federal funding for a group of Democratic-controlled states, according to a White House budget official and records reviewed by The Washington Post, as the administration looks to cut off resources for “sanctuary” jurisdictions that refuse to collaborate with immigration enforcement authorities.

    The White House Office of Management and Budget ordered all federal agencies except the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments to report every grant, loan, contract, subcontract and “other monetary awards” to a group of 14 states and Washington, D.C.

    The memo, sent Monday with instructions to report back by Jan. 28, says the exercise is meant to “facilitate efforts to reduce the improper and fraudulent use of those funds through administrative means or legislative proposals to Congress.”

    “This is a data-gathering exercise only,” the memo states later. “It does not involve withholding funds and therefore does not violate any court order.”

    President Donald Trump declared in a speech last week that as of Feb. 1, the federal government would stop making “any payments to sanctuary cities, or states having sanctuary cities, because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens.”

    The Trump administration has surged immigration enforcement in Minneapolis as prosecutors focus on nonprofits there that have received federal grants. Many of the targeted organizations are affiliated with the city’s large Somali community, and Trump has used the situation to call for a crackdown on both federal benefits fraud and immigration from East Africa.

    During a speech Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort town of Davos, Trump described the investigation’s targets as “Somalian bandits.”

    “We are moving forward with taking fraud seriously,” said an OMB spokesperson, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal proceedings.

    The jurisdictions included in the budget office’s request are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington state. It also includes the District of Columbia.

    The memo was reported earlier by RealClearPolitics and CNN.

    It requests agencies provide detailed information on all funds to those states, including money routed for state and local governments, nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions.

    The memo includes a worksheet that asks agencies to report money sent to those recipients in the 2025 fiscal year and estimated spending for the 2026 fiscal year.

    White House budget director Russell Vought has faced off with Democratic-controlled states before.

    During the 43-day government shutdown that stretched from the start of October into mid-November, Vought’s office paused billions of dollars for New York subway and rail projects; Democrats’ leaders in Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, both represent the Empire State.

    Vought also attempted to cancel $8 billion in clean energy funds for a group of 16 Democratic-run states. A federal judge said this month that the move was unlawful and reinstated the money.

    “Defendants freely admit that they made grant-termination decisions primarily – if not exclusively – based on whether the awardee resided in a state whose citizens voted for President Trump in 2024,” Judge Amit Mehta, of the District Court of the District of Columbia, wrote in his ruling.

  • Here are the signs the Trump administration removed from Independence Park

    Here are the signs the Trump administration removed from Independence Park

    html,body{margin:0}.inno :where(*:not(svg,svg *,.inno-no-reset,.inno-no-reset *),use){all:revert;margin:0;padding:0;border:0;list-style:none}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:100;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-ThinWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-ThinWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:100;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-ThinItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-ThinItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:300;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-LightWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-LightWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:300;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-LightItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-LightItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:normal;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-RegularWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-RegularWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-RegularItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-RegularItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:500;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-MediumWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-MediumWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:500;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-MediumItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-MediumItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:600;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-SemiBoldWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-SemiBoldWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:600;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-SemiBoldItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-SemiBoldItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:700;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BoldWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BoldWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BoldItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BoldItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:900;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BlackWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BlackWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”;font-weight:900;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BlackItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerHeadline-BlackItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Text”;font-weight:normal;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-RegularWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-RegularWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Text”;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-RegularItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-RegularItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Text”;font-weight:bold;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-BoldWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-BoldWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Inquirer Text”;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-BoldItalicWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/InquirerTextWEB-BoldItalicWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Grot 10″;font-weight:normal;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-RegularWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-RegularWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Grot 10″;font-weight:500;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-MediumWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-MediumWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Grot 10″;font-weight:bold;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-ExtraboldWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot10-ExtraboldWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Grot12″;font-weight:300;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot12Condensed-LightWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot12Condensed-LightWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}@font-face{font-family:”Grot12″;font-weight:600;src:url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot12Condensed-SemiboldWEB.woff2”) format(“woff2”),url(“https://media.inquirer.com/fonts/Grot12Condensed-SemiboldWEB.woff”) format(“woff”)}.inno{-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;color:#222;padding-block-end:64px;overflow:clip;font-size:14px;line-height:1}.inno–widget,.inno–embed{overflow:hidden;padding-block-end:0}.inno–widget .inno-layout–content>*,.inno–embed .inno-layout–content>*{max-width:none}.inno-anchorable:before{content:””;display:block;height:calc(var(–nav-height, 0) + 10px);margin:calc(0px – (var(–nav-height, 0) + 10px)) 0 0}.inno-spanner{background-color:#f0af13;box-shadow:4px 0 0 #f0af13,-4px 0 0 #f0af13;color:#fff;padding:1px 0;margin:0 5px;box-decoration-break:clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;color:#222}.inno-spanner–error{background-color:#fff;border:3px dashed #e11b22;box-shadow:none;padding-left:4px;padding-right:4px}.inno{–gutter: calc(50vw – 325px)}.inno *{box-sizing:border-box}.inno-layout–content>*{max-width:min(650px,100vw – 32px);margin-inline:auto}.inno-layout–align-full{max-width:100%}.inno-layout–align-wide{max-width:min(1250px,100vw – 32px);margin-inline:auto}.inno-layout–align-default{max-width:min(650px,100vw – 32px);margin-inline:auto}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-layout–align-left{float:left;margin-inline-start:var(–gutter);margin-inline-end:24px;width:301px;margin-block-end:16px;padding-top:6px}}@media(min-width: 60em){.inno-layout–align-left{margin-inline-start:calc(var(–gutter) – clamp(0px,var(–gutter) – 100px,160px))}}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-layout–align-right{float:right;width:301px;margin-inline-start:24px;margin-inline-end:var(–gutter);margin-block-end:16px;padding-top:5px}}@media(min-width: 60em){.inno-layout–align-right{margin-inline-end:calc(var(–gutter) – clamp(0px,var(–gutter) – 100px,160px))}}.inno-layout–stack>*+*{margin-block-start:24px}.inno-layout–stack-tight>*+*{margin-block-start:10px}.inno-layout–stack-loose>*+*{margin-block-start:30px}*+.inno-layout–isolate{margin-block-start:48px}.inno-layout–isolate+*{margin-block-start:48px}.inno-imagegrid{display:flex;flex-direction:column;width:100%;display:grid;column-gap:10px;row-gap:10px;margin:12px;max-width:800px}.inno-imagegrid.has-focus .inno-imagegrid__item{opacity:.3}.inno-imagegrid.has-focus .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{opacity:1}.inno-imagegrid__row{display:grid;gap:10px}.inno-imagegrid__row–1{grid-template-columns:1fr .8fr 1fr}.inno-imagegrid__row–2{grid-template-columns:1fr}.inno-imagegrid__row–3{grid-template-columns:1fr}.inno-imagegrid__row–5{grid-template-columns:3.4fr 1fr}.inno-imagegrid__item-wrapper{position:relative}.inno-imagegrid__item{position:absolute;display:flex;transition:top 1s ease-in-out,left 1s ease-in-out,width 1s ease-in-out,height 1s ease-in-out,transform 1s ease-in-out,opacity .4s ease-in-out;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%}.inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transition:top 1s ease-in-out,left 1s ease-in-out,width 1s ease-in-out,height 1s ease-in-out,transform 1s ease-in-out,opacity .4s ease-in-out .6s}.inno-imagegrid__item-img{align-self:center;width:100%;height:auto}.inno-imagegrid__annotation{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;width:100%;height:100%}.inno-imagegrid__rect{stroke:#f0af13;fill:none;stroke-dasharray:1;stroke-dashoffset:1;opacity:0;transition:opacity .4s ease-in-out,stroke-dashoffset 2s ease-in-out 1.5s}.is-focus .inno-imagegrid__rect{opacity:1;transition-delay:0s}[data-id=wayside] .inno-imagegrid__rect{stroke-width:12px}[data-id=life-under-slavery] .inno-imagegrid__rect{stroke-width:50px}[data-id=exec-branch] .inno-imagegrid__rect{stroke-width:2.5px}[data-id=history-lost] .inno-imagegrid__rect{stroke-width:34px}[data-id=dirty-business] .inno-imagegrid__rect{stroke-width:30px}[data-id=inde-hall] .inno-imagegrid__rect{stroke-width:40px}[data-id=franklin] .inno-imagegrid__rect{stroke-width:80px}[data-id=house] .inno-imagegrid__rect{stroke-width:6px}.inno-adbox{max-height:400px;transition:max-height .4s ease-in-out,padding .4s ease-in-out,margin .4s ease-in-out;overflow:hidden}.inno-adbox.is-hidden{max-height:0;margin:0;padding:0}.inno-adbox–banner{padding-block:48px;background:#222}@media(min-width: 0em)and (max-width: 48em){.inno-adbox–banner{display:none}}.inno-adbox–banner .inno-adbox__label{display:none}.inno-color–white .inno-adbox–banner{background:#f4f1eb}.inno-color–white .inno-adbox–banner .inno-ad__ad{background:#fff}.inno-color–black .inno-adbox–banner{background:rgb(54.4,54.4,54.4)}.inno-adbox__label{display:block;margin:0 auto 8px;text-align:center;font-size:12px;color:#808284;text-transform:uppercase}.inno-ad__ad{margin-inline:auto;background-color:#f4f1eb;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;overflow:hidden;width:300px;height:250px}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-ad__ad{width:728px;height:90px}}@media(min-width: 63.9375em){.inno-ad__ad{height:auto;width:fit-content;min-width:728px;min-height:90px;max-width:970px;max-height:250px}}.inno-ad__ad–small{width:300px;height:250px;min-height:auto;min-width:auto}.inno-ad__ad iframe{position:unset !important}.inno-ad__ad .cnx-content-wrapper{position:relative !important}.inno-ad__ad .celtra-ad-inline-host,.inno-ad__ad .celtra-ad-inline-host *{position:relative !important;overflow:hidden !important}.inno-ad__placeholder{text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:bold;font-size:16px;color:#222}@media(min-width: 75em){.inno-ad__placeholder{padding:120px 0}}.inno-body__error{color:var(–color-text-primary);padding:24px;border:3px dashed #e11b22;font-family:monospace;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:16px}.inno-body__error-head{display:block;font-weight:bold}.inno-button{position:relative;display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;align-items:center;gap:8px;box-sizing:border-box;text-decoration:none;border-radius:4px;cursor:pointer;pointer-events:auto;transition:background-color .4s ease-in-out,border-color .4s ease-in-out,color .4s ease-in-out;background-color:var(–color-accent);color:var(–color-over-accent)}.inno-button:focus{outline:solid 4px var(–color-text-tertiary)}.inno-button:disabled{pointer-events:none}.inno-button–primary:hover{background-color:var(–color-text-primary);color:var(–color-background)}.inno-button–primary:disabled{background-color:var(–color-text-secondary);color:var(–color-text-tertiary);pointer-events:none}.inno-button–secondary{background-color:var(–color-background);color:var(–color-text-primary);border:solid 1px var(–color-accent)}.inno-button–secondary:hover{background-color:var(–color-accent);color:var(–color-over-accent);border:solid 1px var(–color-accent)}.inno-button–secondary:disabled{border-color:var(–color-text-tertiary);color:var(–color-text-tertiary)}.inno-button–minimal{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);color:var(–color-text-primary);padding:8px}.inno-button–minimal:hover{background-color:var(–color-accent);color:var(–color-over-accent)}.inno-button–minimal:hover .inno-button__label{opacity:1}.inno-button–minimal:disabled{background-color:var(–color-text-secondary);color:var(–color-text-tertiary);pointer-events:none}.inno-button–large{padding:16px 40px}.inno-button–medium{padding:10px 24px}.inno-button–small{padding:8px 16px}.inno-button–round{border-radius:99px}.inno-button–round.inno-button–small{padding:8px}.inno-button–round.inno-button–medium{padding:10px}.inno-button–round.inno-button–large{padding:16px}.inno-button__label{font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-weight:700;line-height:1.2em;flex-grow:0;z-index:1}.inno-button–large .inno-button__label{font-size:20px}.inno-button–medium .inno-button__label{font-size:18px}.inno-button–small .inno-button__label{font-size:16px}.inno-button–has-image .inno-button__label{text-align:center}.inno-button__image{max-width:100%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center}.inno-byline{border-block:1px solid var(–color-faint);padding-block:16px;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5}.inno-byline–center{border-block:none;padding-block:0}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-byline{font-size:16px}}.inno-byline__content{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:12px}.inno-byline–center .inno-byline__content{flex-direction:column;text-align:center}.inno-byline__text{flex:1 1 auto}.inno-byline .inno-gift{flex:0 0 auto}.inno-byline__timestamp-date{color:var(–color-text-primary)}.inno-byline__timestamp-label{color:var(–color-text-secondary)}.inno-byline__authors{color:var(–color-text-primary, #222222);line-height:1.5em;text-wrap-style:balance}.inno-byline__author{display:inline}.inno-byline__author-link,.inno-byline__authors a{color:var(–color-text-primary, #222222);text-decoration:none;transition:color .4s ease-in-out}.inno-byline__author-link:hover,.inno-byline__authors a:hover{color:var(–color-text-link, #004e96)}.inno-callout__content{background-color:var(–color-background-secondary);padding:20px 15px}.inno-callout:has(.inno-callout__cta) .inno-callout__content{padding-bottom:50px}.inno-callout__tag{font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:var(–color-text-primary)}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-callout__tag{font-size:18px}}.inno-callout__title{font-family:”Grot12″,sans-serif;font-size:32px;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(–color-text-primary);text-wrap:balance}*+.inno-callout__title{margin-block-start:5px}.inno-callout__body{font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:var(–color-text-primary);line-height:1.65em}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-callout__body{font-size:18px}}*+.inno-callout__body{margin-block-start:10px}.inno-callout__body .inno-p{font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;color:inherit;line-height:inherit}.inno-callout__cta{display:flex;width:calc(100% – 30px);margin:-30px 15px 0 15px}.inno-callout__cta .inno-button{box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(89,87,96,.1),0 3px 6px rgba(89,87,96,.1);padding:20px 20px}.inno-callout__form-policy{font-size:15.2px;margin-top:20px;color:#808284;line-height:1.65}.inno-callout__form-policy a{color:#808284;transition:color .3s ease-in-out}.inno-callout__form-policy a:hover{color:var(–color-text-primary)}.inno-caption{color:var(–color-text-secondary);font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5}.inno-caption a{color:inherit;box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 var(–color-text-secondary);transition:color .25s ease,box-shadow .25s ease;text-decoration:none}.inno-caption a:hover{color:var(–color-text-link);box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 var(–color-text-link)}.inno-caption__caption-text{display:block;text-wrap:pretty}.inno-caption__credit{color:var(–color-text-tertiary);display:block}.inno-credits{font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif}.inno-credits__header{color:var(–color-text-primary);font-size:16px;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.2;border-bottom:1px solid var(–color-faint);padding-bottom:4px;margin-bottom:8px}.inno-credits__roles{display:grid;gap:8px;color:var(–color-text-secondary);font-size:14px;line-height:1.5;text-align:pretty}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-credits__roles{grid-template-columns:50% 50%}}.inno-gift{display:none}.inno-gift–default{justify-content:center}.inno-gift–default.is-available{display:flex}.inno-gift–default .inno-button{font-size:24px;padding:8px;min-width:200px;margin:0px auto}.inno-gift–minimal.is-available{display:inline-block}.inno-gift–minimal .inno-button{display:flex;align-items:center;font-size:16px;line-height:16px}.inno-gift–minimal .inno-button__label{font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:currentColor;opacity:.4;transition:opacity .4s ease-in-out;display:none}@media(min-width: 37.5em){.inno-gift–minimal .inno-button__label{display:inline-block}}.inno-gift–minimal .inno-icon{display:inline-block}.inno-gift.is-available{display:block}.is-app .inno-gift{display:none}.inno-gift .inno-icon–loading{animation:spin 1s linear forwards infinite}.inno-gift .inno-icon{display:none}.inno-gift [data-state=ready] .inno-icon–gift{display:initial}.inno-gift [data-state=loading] .inno-icon–loading{display:initial}.inno-gift [data-state=complete] .inno-icon–tickmark{display:initial}.inno-gift [data-state=error] .inno-icon–cross{display:initial}.inno-gift-toast-receiver{display:none}@keyframes spin{0%{rotate:0deg}100%{rotate:360deg}}.inno-graphic__iframe,.inno-graphic__datawrapper{width:100%}.inno-heading{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:24px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2;color:var(–color-text-primary);scroll-margin-top:calc(var(–sticky-height) + 16px);text-wrap:balance}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-heading{font-size:36px}}.inno-heading–chapter{font-weight:300;border-bottom:1px solid var(–color-text-primary);text-transform:uppercase}.inno-layout–stack>*+.inno-heading{margin-block-start:48px}.inno-layout–stack>.inno-heading:has(+*){margin-block-end:-12px}.inno-layout–stack-tight>*+.inno-heading{margin-block-start:20px}.inno-layout–stack-tight>.inno-heading:has(+*){margin-block-end:-5px}.inno-layout–stack-loose>*+.inno-heading{margin-block-start:60px}.inno-layout–stack-loose>.inno-heading:has(+*){margin-block-end:-15px}.inno-hero{margin-block-start:0}.inno-hero–has-media .inno-hero__content{padding-bottom:72px}@media(min-width: 60em){.inno-hero–has-media .inno-hero__content{padding-bottom:128px}}.inno-color–white .inno-hero,.inno-mode–light .inno-hero–style-transparent{–color-accent: #ffffff;–color-over-accent: #222222}.inno-color–black .inno-hero,.inno-mode–dark .inno-hero–style-transparent{–color-accent: #222222;–color-over-accent: #ffffff}.inno-hero–style-transparent .inno-hero__content{background:rgba(0,0,0,0)}.inno-hero–layout-above{display:flex;flex-direction:column-reverse;background:var(–color-accent)}.inno-hero–layout-above .inno-hero__content{padding:24px 0}.inno-hero–layout-above .inno-hero__media{max-width:80%;margin:0 auto;padding-top:24px}.inno-hero–layout-above .inno-hero__media>*{max-width:350px}.inno-hero–layout-above .inno-hero__media .inno-caption{display:none}.inno-hero__content{padding-block:24px;text-align:center;color:var(–color-over-accent)}@media(min-width: 60em){.inno-hero__content{padding-block:32px}}.inno-hero__eyebrow{font-family:”Grot12″,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;padding:5px 8px;background:var(–color-over-accent);color:var(–color-accent);width:max-content;text-decoration:none;line-height:2}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-hero__eyebrow{font-size:18px}}.inno-hero__headline{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:40px;font-weight:600;line-height:1;text-wrap:balance}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-hero__headline{font-size:52px}}.inno-hero__subheadline{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:20px;line-height:1.3;text-wrap:balance}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-hero__subheadline{font-size:24px}}.inno-hero__media{position:relative;z-index:2;margin-top:-48px}@media(min-width: 60em){.inno-hero__media{margin-top:-96px}}.inno-hover{position:relative;cursor:pointer;border:1px var(–color-accent) solid;padding:3px 4px;transition:border .4s ease-in-out;box-sizing:border-box}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-hover{cursor:help}}.inno-hover:hover{border:1px var(–color-accent) solid}.inno-hover__box{position:fixed;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;z-index:20;background-color:var(–color-background);pointer-events:none;transform:translateY(100%);transition:transform .4s ease-in-out;padding:16px;border-top:1px solid var(–color-accent);white-space:normal;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:1.5}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-hover__box{position:absolute;top:100%;width:200px;left:-1px;right:0;bottom:auto;margin:auto;max-width:250px;padding:6px;opacity:0;transition:opacity .4s ease-in-out;transform:none;border:1px solid var(–color-accent)}}.inno-hover.is-visible .inno-hover__box{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}.inno-icon{display:inline-block;width:1.2em;height:1.2em;fill:currentColor}.inno-icon–white{fill:#fff}.inno-icon–black{fill:#222}.inno-icon–accent{fill:var(–color-accent)}.inno-icon–over-accent{fill:var(–color-over-accent)}.inno-icon__stroke{fill:rgba(0,0,0,0);stroke:currentColor;stroke-width:2px;vector-effect:non-scaling-stroke}.inno-icon–white .inno-icon__stroke{stroke:#fff}.inno-icon–black .inno-icon__stroke{stroke:#222}.inno-icon–accent .inno-icon__stroke{stroke:var(–color-accent)}.inno-icon–over-accent .inno-icon__stroke{stroke:var(–color-over-accent)}.inno-image__img{width:100%;display:block}.inno-looping-video__video{width:100%}.inno-p{-webkit-font-smoothing:subpixel-antialiased;-mox-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;color:#222;color:var(–color-text-primary);font-family:”Inquirer Text”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:18px;line-height:1.666666;white-space:pre-line;text-wrap:pretty}@media(min-width: 37.5em){.inno-p{font-size:20px;line-height:1.6}}.inno-p–has-dropcap:first-letter{margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0;font-family:”Inquirer Headline”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:3.2em;float:left;font-weight:bold;line-height:1;color:var(–color-text-accent)}@-moz-document url-prefix(){.inno-p–has-dropcap:first-letter{margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:0px}}@media(min-width: 37.5em){.inno-p–has-dropcap:first-letter{font-size:5.3em;margin-top:-3px;margin-bottom:-10px}@-moz-document url-prefix(){.inno-p–has-dropcap:first-letter{margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px}}}.inno-p a{transition:box-shadow .25s ease;color:var(–color-text-link);text-decoration:none}.inno-p a:hover{box-shadow:inset 0 -1px 0 0 var(–color-text-link)}.inno-p__endmark{display:inline-block;height:1.1em;width:1.1em;margin-left:5px;vertical-align:text-bottom;margin-bottom:2px;fill:var(–color-text-accent)}.inno-premium{padding:19px 26px 22px 8px;color:var(–color-text-primary);font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;font-size:18px;line-height:1;font-weight:normal;background-color:var(–color-background-secondary)}.inno-premium .inno-icon{fill:#f0af13;width:24px;margin-right:7px}.inno-premium__header{display:flex}.inno-premium__hed{font-weight:bold;line-height:22px;font-size:16px;color:var(–color-text-primary);padding:3px 0 4px;font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;text-wrap:pretty}.inno-mode–dark .inno-premium__hed{color:#fff}.inno-premium__message{font-weight:500;line-height:22px;font-size:16px;color:var(–color-text-secondary);font-family:”Grot 10″,sans-serif;margin-left:32px;text-wrap:pretty}.inno-settings{–color-background: #DCF2D3;–color-background: white;–color-background-secondary: #f4f1eb;–color-accent: #004e96;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-primary: #222222;–color-text-link: #004e96;–color-text-secondary: #595760;–color-text-tertiary: #808284;–color-text-accent: #004e96;–color-faint: #dcdcdc;–color-mask: rgba(34, 34, 34, 0.8);background:var(–color-background);color:var(–color-text-primary)}.inno-mode–dark{–color-background: #222222;–color-background-secondary: #595760;–color-accent: #8dd7f7;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-primary: #ffffff;–color-text-secondary: #dcdcdc;–color-text-tertiary: #808284;–color-text-link: #8dd7f7;–color-faint: #595760;–color-mask: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8)}.inno-color–purple{–color-accent: #7b2589;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #7b2589}.inno-color–pink{–color-accent: #cd0785;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #cd0785}.inno-color–red{–color-accent: #e11b22;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #e11b22}.inno-color–orange{–color-accent: #e66a1f;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #e66a1f}.inno-color–yellow{–color-accent: #f0af13;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #f0af13}.inno-color–green{–color-accent: #00a253;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #00a253}.inno-color–teal{–color-accent: #00a69e;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #00a69e}.inno-color–light-gray{–color-accent: #dcdcdc;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #dcdcdc}.inno-color–light-blue{–color-accent: #8dd7f7;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #8dd7f7}.inno-color–blue{–color-accent: #004e96;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #004e96}.inno-color–black{–color-accent: #222222;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #222222}.inno-color–white{–color-accent: #ffffff;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #ffffff}.inno-color–white,.inno-color–black{–color-accent: #004e96;–color-over-accent: #ffffff;–color-text-accent: #222222}.inno-color–white.inno-mode–dark,.inno-color–black.inno-mode–dark{–color-accent: #8dd7f7;–color-over-accent: #222222;–color-text-accent: #ffffff}body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless){overflow:hidden;width:100vw;height:100vh}@supports(width: 100dvw){body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless){width:100dvw}}@supports(height: 100dvh){body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless){height:100dvh}}body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless) .global-app-bar,body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless) .footer,body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless) .footer-wrapper{display:none}body:has(.inno-chrome–chromeless) #inq-article-completion{height:0px}.inno-heading{font-family:”Inquirer Headline”,”Times New Roman”,serif;font-size:24px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2;color:var(–color-text-primary);scroll-margin-top:calc(var(–sticky-height) + 16px);text-wrap:balance}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-heading{font-size:36px}}.inno-heading–chapter{font-weight:300;border-bottom:1px solid var(–color-text-primary);text-transform:uppercase}.inno-layout–stack>*+.inno-heading{margin-block-start:48px}.inno-layout–stack>.inno-heading:has(+*){margin-block-end:-12px}.inno-layout–stack-tight>*+.inno-heading{margin-block-start:20px}.inno-layout–stack-tight>.inno-heading:has(+*){margin-block-end:-5px}.inno-layout–stack-loose>*+.inno-heading{margin-block-start:60px}.inno-layout–stack-loose>.inno-heading:has(+*){margin-block-end:-15px}.inno-image__img{width:100%;display:block}.inno-steps__steps{position:relative;margin-top:-20vh;padding-bottom:80vh}@media(min-width: 60em){.inno-steps__steps:before{content:””;position:fixed;width:50%;z-index:2;top:0;right:0;height:100%;pointer-events:none;opacity:0;background:linear-gradient(to right, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0) 0%, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9) 10%);transition:opacity .4s ease-in-out}}.inno-steps__step{position:relative;z-index:2;-webkit-transform:translate3d(0, 0, 0);margin:70vh auto;padding:8px;background-color:#fff;border:var(–color-faint) 1px solid;overflow:auto;max-width:min(100% – 32px,650px)}@media(min-width: 37.5em){.inno-steps__step{padding:12px;margin:70vh auto}}.inno-steps__step:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.inno-steps__step:last-of-type{margin-bottom:0}.inno-steps__step–transparent{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);box-shadow:none}@media(min-width: 60em){.inno-steps__step–left{width:calc(50vw – 32px);margin-left:auto;margin-right:calc(50% + 16px)}}@media(min-width: 60em){.inno-steps__step{width:calc(50vw – 32px);margin-right:auto;margin-left:calc(50% + 16px)}}.inno-steps__step–full{max-width:none;width:100%;padding:24px 0;border-left:none;border-right:none}.inno-steps__step–full .inno-steps__body{max-width:100%;margin:0 auto}.inno-steps__step–full .inno-steps__body>*:not([class*=inno-layout–align-]){max-width:min(100% – 32px,650px);margin-inline:auto}.inno-steps__step .inno-hero__content{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);color:var(–color-text-primary)}.inno-steps__step .inno-byline{border-top:0;border-bottom:0;padding:0;margin-block-start:0;text-align:center}.inno-steps__step .inno-byline__content{flex-direction:column}.inno-steps__step .inno-premium{display:none}.inno-steps__step .inno-steps__body+.inno-caption{margin-top:6px}.inno-steps__content{position:sticky;height:100vh;width:100%;top:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;overflow:hidden;isolation:isolate;z-index:1}@supports(height: 100dvh){.inno-steps__content{height:100dvh}}.inno-steps__custom{z-index:1;position:absolute;width:95vw;max-width:1200px;height:100%;top:0;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width: 60em){.inno-steps__custom{width:50%;right:auto}}.inno-steps__custom:empty{display:none;pointer-events:none}.inno-steps__background{position:absolute;object-fit:cover;inset:0;opacity:0;transition:opacity .4s ease-in-out;z-index:0;background-color:var(–color-background);display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center}.inno-steps__background .inno-graphic{width:100%}.inno-steps__background .inno-looping-video,.inno-steps__background .inno-image{width:100%;height:100%}.inno-steps__background .inno-looping-video__video,.inno-steps__background .inno-image__img{height:100%;width:100%;object-position:center;object-fit:cover}.inno-steps__background–contain{background-color:var(–color-background);padding:8px}@media(min-width: 48em){.inno-steps__background–contain{padding:16px}}.inno-steps__background–contain .inno-looping-video__video,.inno-steps__background–contain .inno-image__img{object-fit:contain}.inno-steps__background–left .inno-image__img{object-fit:contain}.inno-steps__background–right .inno-image__img{object-fit:contain}@media(min-width: 60em){.inno-steps__background–right{width:50%;left:auto}}.inno-steps[data-current=presidents-house] .inno-imagegrid__item[data-id=inde-hall],.inno-steps[data-current=presidents-house] .inno-imagegrid__item[data-id=franklin]{opacity:.3}.inno-steps[data-current=nps] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:translateX(-90%) scale(2.5)}.inno-steps[data-current=nps] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=nps] .inno-imagegrid__rect–history-3{stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=history-lost] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:translateX(70%) scale(2.5)}.inno-steps[data-current=history-lost] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=history-lost] .inno-imagegrid__rect–history-1,.inno-steps[data-current=history-lost] .inno-imagegrid__rect–history-2{transition-delay:1s;stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=life-under-slavery] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:scale(2)}.inno-steps[data-current=life-under-slavery] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=life-under-slavery] .inno-imagegrid__rect–life-1{stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=life-under-slavery-detail] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:translateX(50%) scale(2)}.inno-steps[data-current=life-under-slavery-detail] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=life-under-slavery-detail] .inno-imagegrid__rect–life-2,.inno-steps[data-current=life-under-slavery-detail] .inno-imagegrid__rect–life-3{transition-delay:1s;stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=wayside] .inno-imagegrid__rect–wayside{stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=dirty-business] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:translateX(100%) scale(3)}.inno-steps[data-current=dirty-business] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=dirty-business] .inno-imagegrid__rect–dirty-1{stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=slavery-timeline] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:translateX(-80%) scale(3)}.inno-steps[data-current=slavery-timeline] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=slavery-timeline] .inno-imagegrid__rect–dirty-2{transition-delay:1s;stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=exec-branch] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:translateX(50%) scale(2)}.inno-steps[data-current=exec-branch] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=exec-branch] .inno-imagegrid__rect–exec-1{stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=petitions] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:translateX(35%) scale(3)}.inno-steps[data-current=petitions] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=petitions] .inno-imagegrid__rect–exec-2{transition-delay:1s;stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=house] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:translateX(100%) scale(3)}.inno-steps[data-current=house] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=house] .inno-imagegrid__rect–house-1{stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=rotating] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:translateX(-100%) scale(3)}.inno-steps[data-current=rotating] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=rotating] .inno-imagegrid__rect–house-2{stroke-dashoffset:0;transition-delay:1s}.inno-steps[data-current=martha] .inno-imagegrid__item.is-focus{transform:translateX(-100%) scale(3)}.inno-steps[data-current=martha] .inno-steps__steps:before{opacity:1}.inno-steps[data-current=martha] .inno-imagegrid__rect–house-3{stroke-dashoffset:0;transition-delay:1s}.inno-steps[data-current=inde-hall] .inno-imagegrid__rect–inde{stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-steps[data-current=franklin] .inno-imagegrid__rect–franklin{stroke-dashoffset:0}.inno-subscribe{display:none;position:relative}.inno-subscribe.is-unsubscribed{display:block}.inno-subscribe.is-preview{display:block}.inno-subscribe.is-dev{display:block}.inno-subscribe.is-dev::before{content:”Non-subscribers only”;display:block;position:absolute;left:-20px;border:1px dashed red;font-size:8px;text-transform:uppercase;padding:5px;font-weight:bold;writing-mode:vertical-lr}.inno-video{width:auto}.inno-video__video{width:100%}.inno-toast{position:fixed;bottom:16px;left:0;right:0;width:max-content;margin:0px auto;z-index:120;display:flex;align-content:center;justify-content:center;text-align:center;font-size:20px;border-radius:5px;background-color:var(–color-text-primary);color:var(–color-background);padding:24px 48px;box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(89,87,96,.1),0 3px 6px rgba(89,87,96,.1);translate:0% calc(100% + 18px);transition:translate .4s}.inno-toast–active{translate:0 0}

    Here are the signs the Trump administration removed from Independence Park

    Following last year’s review, every sign has been removed from the President’s House site.

    National Park Service workers remove the displays at the President’s House site in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.  More than a dozen displays about slavery were flagged for the Trump administration’s review, with the House coming under particular scrutiny.
    Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    On Thursday, the National Park Service dismantled exhibits about slavery at the President’s House in Independence National Historical Park. This follows orders by President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to remove content at national parks that “inappropriately disparage” the U.S.

    As part of a review ordered by Trump’s administration in August 2025, National Park Service employees flagged many issues across seven panels in and around the President’s House site.

    Here are some of the signs that were removed and why they were flagged:

    • The President’s House site has a complex history dating back to a 1997 plan for redesigning Independence Mall that did not include its memorialization and according to Inquirer archives, the National Park Service initially did not want to have the site studied. Local Black activists and historians led an effort to excavate the site and create an exhibit that made enslaved individuals who lived and worked in the President’s House a focal point of the historic monument. Developed through a collaboration between the activists, the NPS and others, the President’s House opened to the public in 2010.

    • A section on a panel that describes the history of the President’s house was flagged for mentioning that history and showing “negativity towards the National Park Service.” Seth C. Bruggeman, a professor of history at Temple University, noted that the site is now important not only for its subject matter, but because of the power of the community members who fought for it and helped develop it.

      “Trump can change whatever sign he likes,” said Bruggeman, “but that won't erase the memory of Philadelphians coming together to insist on an honest reckoning with our past.”

    • Most other passages that were flagged seemingly respond to the “disparagement of historical figures” part of Trump’s order. On the same panel, National Park employees flagged the use of the words “profoundly disturbing” to describe Washington transporting enslaved people between Virginia and Pennsylvania.

    • story continues after advertisement
    • A panel describing life under slavery was flagged three times. NPS comments questioned whether George Washington’s motivation to have a steward sign an advertisement seeking the return of a slave who escaped the President’s house could be known.

      Cory Young, an assistant history professor at the University of Iowa and a scholar of abolition and slavery in the American North, says that historians are generally in agreement that Washington was very aware of his public image and the fact that he was setting precedent for future American presidents.

    • Descriptions of the treatment of enslaved individuals at the hands of slaveholders and how Africans were kidnapped and brought to America were also flagged. These passages don’t appear to have been flagged for any factual inaccuracies. It’s possible they were flagged because descriptions of brutality against slaves could be interpreted as reflecting negatively on past Americans.

    • An illustration depicting Washington signing the Fugitive Slave Act while a group of white men are depicted with clubs and guns shooting at Black men was also flagged for review. Similar to the previous panel, park comments don’t dispute any facts depicted in the illustration.

    • A wayside sign introducing the President’s House Site was flagged for saying that the Adams household “possibly” hired enslaved people to work in the President’s house. While we know the Adams household hired African Americans, due to scarce documentation about slavery during the early American Era, it’s difficult for historians to say with certainty whether any of them were enslaved.

    • A panel titled The Dirty Business of Slavery was also flagged twice. Text describing the growth of the enslaved population as a result of both natural increase, but also as a result of rape and forced breeding, was flagged. NPS staff flagged the text, but didn’t include any concerns about facts depicted.

    • An entry in the Slavery Timeline on this panel was also flagged because an image near the 1793 Fugitive Slave Act entry references the “much harsher” 1850 Fugitive Slave Law. Young believes this is more a layout issue than an issue with historical accuracy as both images are labeled correctly and the timeline later contains an entry for the 1850 law.

    • story continues after advertisement
    • A panel about the executive branch was flagged for review twice. First, NPS comments appear to take issue with the panel’s interpretation of why Southern delegates favored a site along the Potomac River for the new capital city. The panel doesn’t explicitly say that Southern delegates preferred this location because Maryland and Virginia were both slave states, but might have been flagged because of the association of slavery with the creation of the new nation’s capital.

    • The panel was also flagged because “it gives no background as to why” neither John Adams nor George Washington commented on petitions or publications protesting slavery. According to Young, it wasn’t common at the time for the president to speak about slavery as a political issue in public speeches or petitions.

    • National Park employees submitted three items for review on a panel describing the people who lived in the President’s House, both free and enslaved. According to NPS comment, “the timeline calls out everyone who lived there and who was a slaveholder. No other descriptors are used.” However, the panel also describes Mary Lawrence Masters as a wealthy widow of the former mayor and describes Robert Morris additionally as a financier. George Washington is not explicitly described as a slaveholder nor as president, though his roles as both are described elsewhere on this panel and throughout the exhibit.

    • The NPS also flagged a subtitle on the panel for review: Washington’s Deceit. Saying that “The section speaks of Washington secretly rotating his enslaved laborers between Mt. Vernon and the President’s House in order to take advantage of a loophole in Pennsylvania’s abolition law. The panel demonstrates that he was secretive, but not deceitful.”

      NPS staffers didn’t question the factual basis of the panel. Young noted that while historians might never be able to know if George Washington felt as if he was being deceitful or secretive, they do know that by rotating slaves between Pennsylvania and Virginia, Washington was attempting to avoid freeing any of his slaves under Pennsylvania’s gradual abolition law.

    • NPS also flagged panel text regarding Martha Washington that says “evidence suggests that she accepted the institution of slavery,” noting that the panel does not direct to any evidence. Use of the word “accepted” doesn’t explicitly suggest that she advocated for or against slavery publicly. The panel describes her inheriting slaves and passing at least some enslaved individuals down to her children after her death.

    • story continues after advertisement

    Staff Contributors

    • Design, Development, and Reporting: Aileen Clarke
    • Editing: Sam Morris and Ariella Cohen
    • Photography: Tom Gralish
    • Photo Editing: Frank Wiese
    • Digital Editing: Patricia Madej

    Subscribe to The Philadelphia Inquirer

    Our reporting is directly supported by reader subscriptions. If you want more journalism like this story, please subscribe today

    (()=>{var te=(e,t)=>()=>(t||e((t={exports:{}}).exports,t),t.exports);var k=te(o=>{var oe={0:”Jan.”,1:”Feb.”,2:”March”,3:”April”,4:”May”,5:”June”,6:”July”,7:”Aug.”,8:”Sept.”,9:”Oct.”,10:”Nov.”,11:”Dec.”};function j(e){return e===void 0&&(e=new Date),oe[e.getMonth()]}var re={0:”Jan”,1:”Feb”,2:”Mar”,3:”Apr”,4:”May”,5:”Jun”,6:”Jul”,7:”Aug”,8:”Sep”,9:”Oct”,10:”Nov”,11:”Dec”};function I(e){return e===void 0&&(e=new Date),re[e.getMonth()]}function a(e){return e==null}function $(e){return typeof e==”number”&&isFinite(e)}function w(e){return $(e)&&Math.floor(e)===e}var ae=[“one”,”two”,”three”,”four”,”five”,”six”,”seven”,”eight”,”nine”],ce=[“million”,”billion”,”trillion”,”quadrillion”,”quintillion”,”sextillion”,”septillion”,”octillion”,”nonillion”,”decillion”],C=[“th”,”st”,”nd”,”rd”,”th”,”th”,”th”,”th”,”th”,”th”],le=[11,12,13];function P(e){if(a(e))return””;var t=+e;return w(t)?le.indexOf(t%100)>-1?C[0]:C[t%10]:””}var de=[“first”,”second”,”third”,”fourth”,”fifth”,”sixth”,”seventh”,”eighth”,”ninth”],ue=new RegExp(/s+([^s]*)s*$/);o.apdate=function(e){return e===void 0&&(e=new Date),j(e)+” “+e.getDate()+”, “+e.getFullYear()},o.apdatetab=function(e){return e===void 0&&(e=new Date),I(e)+” “+e.getDate()+”, “+e.getFullYear()},o.apmonth=j,o.apmonthtab=I,o.apnumber=function(e){if(a(e))return””;var t=+e;return w(t)?t=10?e.toString():ae[t-1]:e.toString()},o.aptime=function(e){e===void 0&&(e=new Date);var t,n,i=e.getHours(),s=e.getMinutes(),r=s===0;if(r){if(i===0)return”midnight”;if(i===12)return”noon”}return i0?i:12):(t=”p.m.”,n=i===12?i:i-12),r?n+” “+t:n+”:”+(s<10?"0"+s:s)+" "+t},o.capfirst=function(e){if(a(e))return"";var t=String(e);return""+t.charAt(0).toUpperCase()+t.slice(1)},o.intcomma=function(e){if(a(e))return"";var t,n=+e;return $(n)?((t=n.toString().split("."))[0]=t[0].replace(/B(?=(d{3})+(?!d))/g,","),t.join(".")):e.toString()},o.intword=function(e){if(a(e))return"";var t=+e;if(!w(t))return e.toString();var n=Math.abs(t);if(n<1e6)return e.toString();var i=Math.ceil(Math.log(n+1)/Math.LN10)-1,s=i-i%3,r=t/Math.pow(10,s);return(r=Math.round(10*r)/10)+" "+ce[Math.floor(s/3)-2]},o.ordinal=function(e,t){if(t===void 0&&(t=!1),a(e))return"";var n=+e;return w(n)?t&&n{g!==e&&(clearTimeout(q),ie(),q=setTimeout(()=>{se(e)},g?1e3:0))},ie=()=>{document.querySelector(“.js-imagegrid”).classList.remove(“has-focus”),document.querySelectorAll(“.js-imagegrid-item”).forEach(t=>{t.style.left=”0px”,t.style.top=”0px”,t.style.height=”100%”,t.style.width=”100%”,t.classList.remove(“is-focus”)})},se=e=>{let t=document.querySelector(“.js-imagegrid”),n=document.querySelector(`.js-imagegrid-item[data-id=”${e}”]`);if(n){let i=t.getBoundingClientRect(),s=n.getBoundingClientRect(),r=window.innerWidth>1200?16:8,f=r+i.width,c,l;s.height{},scale:(e=null)=>{ne(e)}};var Oe=k();var H=()=>/Android|webOS|iPhone|iPad|iPod|BlackBerry|IEMobile|Opera Mini/i.test(navigator.userAgent);var x=(e,t=null,n=null)=>{n||(n=document.querySelector(“head”));let i=document.createElement(“script”);i.type=”text/javascript”,i.src=e,t&&(i.onload=t),n.appendChild(i)},v=()=>(window.PMNdataLayer?.[0]!==void 0&&window.PMNdataLayer[0])?.analytics?.user?.state===”Subscribed”,S=()=>{let t=(window.PMNdataLayer?.[0]!==void 0&&window.PMNdataLayer[0])?.analytics?.user?.state;return window.location.host.includes(“zzz-systest”)||window.location.host.includes(“pmn.arcpublishing.com”)||window.location.host.includes(“stage.fusion.inquirer.com”)||typeof t>”u”},D=()=>{let t=(window.PMNdataLayer?.[0]!==void 0&&window.PMNdataLayer[0])?.analytics?.user?.hasAdsFreeReading;return!!(t&&t==1)},h=()=>window.location.host.includes(“localhost”);var pe=()=>{D()&&document.querySelectorAll(“.js-adbox”).forEach(t=>{t.classList.add(“is-hidden”)})},N={init:()=>{pe()}};var d,B,fe=()=>{d=document.getElementById(“js-inno-toast”)},he=e=>{if(!d)return;d.innerHTML=e,d.classList.add(“inno-toast–active”);let t=()=>{d.addEventListener(“transitionend”,me,{once:!0}),d.classList.remove(“inno-toast–active”)};clearTimeout(B),B=setTimeout(t,5e3)},me=()=>{d.innerHTML=””},u={init:()=>{fe()},showToast:he};var b,F=!1,ge=async()=>new Promise(e=>{setTimeout(()=>{console.log(“simulating createShareLink for localhost”),e(“https://inquirer.com/interactives”),ye()},100)}),ye=()=>{let e=document.querySelector(“.js-gift-toast-receiver”);!e||!(e instanceof HTMLElement)||setTimeout(()=>{let t=e?.querySelector(“span”);t&&(t.innerHTML=”Gift link copied to clipboard“)},20)},we=()=>{let e=window.services?.createShareLink;e&&(b=e),h()&&(b=ge),b&&Se()},ve=async e=>{let t=”text/plain”,n=async()=>{try{return await b(window.location.pathname)}catch{e.dataset.state=”error”,u.showToast(“Hmm, we couldn’t generate a gift link…”)}},i=new ClipboardItem({[t]:n()});await navigator.clipboard.write([i]).catch(s=>{console.log(s),u.showToast(“Couldn’t copy to clipboard, try again?”),e.dataset.state=”error”}),u.showToast(“Gift link copied to clipboard!”),e.dataset.state=”complete”},Se=()=>{document.querySelectorAll(“.js-gift”).forEach(t=>{(v()||h()||S())&&t.classList.add(“is-available”)}),document.querySelectorAll(“.js-gift-button”).forEach(t=>{t instanceof HTMLButtonElement&&t.addEventListener(“click”,()=>{t.classList.contains(“disabled”)||(t.dataset.state=”loading”,F=!0,ve(t),setTimeout(()=>{t.dataset.state=”ready”},2e3))})});let e=document.querySelector(“.js-gift-toast-receiver”);!e||!(e instanceof HTMLElement)||be(e)},be=e=>{new MutationObserver(n=>{for(let i of n){let s=[…i.addedNodes].at(0);if(!(s instanceof HTMLElement))return;F&&u.showToast(s.outerHTML)}}).observe(e,{subtree:!0,childList:!0})},O={init:()=>{we()}};var Le=()=>{window.addEventListener(“message”,e=>{if(e.data[“datawrapper-height”]){let t=e.data[“datawrapper-height”];for(let n in t)document.querySelector(`#datawrapper-chart-${n}`).setAttribute(“height”,t[n])}})},xe=()=>{document.querySelectorAll(“.js-datawrapper-graphic”).forEach(e=>{x(`https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/${e.dataset.id}/embed.js`,null,e)})},Ae=()=>{window.addEventListener(“message”,e=>{let t=e.data;document.querySelectorAll(`iframe[src*=”${t.id}”]`).forEach(i=>{i.style.height=`${t.height}px`})},!1)},Te=()=>{document.querySelectorAll(“.js-pym-graphic”).forEach(e=>{if(typeof window{new window.pym.Parent(e.id,e.dataset.iframe)};typeof window.pym>”u”?x(“https://pym.nprapps.org/pym.v1.min.js”,t):t()}})},R={init:()=>{Le(),xe(),Te(),Ae()}};var m,Me=()=>{document.querySelectorAll(“.js-hover”).forEach(e=>{e.addEventListener(“click”,()=>{z(e)}),e.addEventListener(“mouseenter”,()=>{z(e)}),e.addEventListener(“mouseout”,()=>{G(e)})}),window.addEventListener(“scroll”,()=>{m!==null&&qe()})},qe=()=>{(m>window.scrollY+100||m{G(e)})},z=e=>{e.classList.add(“is-visible”),m=window.scrollY},G=e=>{e.classList.remove(“is-visible”),m=null},W={init:()=>{Me()}};var L,Ee=(e,t)=>{L=L||window.PMNdataLayer,L?L.push({event:”misc_event”,eventAction:e,eventLabel:t}):window.location.hostname.includes(“localhost”)?console.log(“Analytics event:”,e,t,”(not actually being sent due to localhost)”):console.log(“Failed to push analytics event”,e,t)},J={event:(e,t)=>{Ee(e,t)}};var V=1;var A=class{constructor(t){this.el=t,this.contentPosition=”default”,this.possibleSteps=new Array,this.currentStep=null,this.offset=window.innerHeight*.9,this.instanceOfSteps=V,V++,this.setPossibleSteps(),this.updateContent(),this.bindings()}setPossibleSteps(){this.el.querySelectorAll(“.js-steps-step”).forEach(t=>{t.dataset.step&&this.possibleSteps.push(t.dataset.step)})}bindings(){window.addEventListener(“scroll”,()=>{this.updateContent()}),window.addEventListener(“resize”,()=>{this.updateContent()})}updateContent(){this.updateCurrentStep()}updateCurrentStep(){let t;if(this.el.querySelectorAll(“.js-steps-step”).forEach((i,s)=>{i.getBoundingClientRect().top{let c=”is-“+r,l=”is-“+f;this.possibleSteps.indexOf(r){document.querySelectorAll(“.js-steps”).forEach(e=>{new A(e)})}};var je=(e,t,n)=>{document.querySelectorAll(“.js-subscribe”).forEach(i=>{i.classList.toggle(“is-unsubscribed”,!e),i.classList.toggle(“is-preview”,t),i.classList.toggle(“is-dev”,n)})},U={init:()=>{je(v(),S(),h())}};var p,T,M=!0,Ie=()=>{p=document.querySelectorAll(“.js-video-autoplay”)},Ce=()=>{window.addEventListener(“resize”,()=>{_()}),window.addEventListener(“scroll”,()=>{_()}),p.forEach(e=>{e.addEventListener(“volumechange”,t=>{e.muted!==M&&!H()&&(M=e.muted,Pe())})})},_=()=>{let e;p.forEach((t,n)=>{let i=t.getBoundingClientRect(),s=i.height/2;i.y-s&&(e=t)}),e!==T&&(T=e,p.forEach(t=>{t.pause()}),e?e.play():T=null)},Pe=()=>{p.forEach(e=>{e.muted=M})},Z={init:()=>{Ie(),p&&Ce()}};var K={init:()=>{y.init?.(),N.init?.(),O.init?.(),R.init?.(),W.init?.(),Y.init?.(),U.init?.(),Z.init?.(),u.init?.()}};var $e=()=>{},Q={init:()=>{$e()}};var ke=document.querySelector(“.js-inno”),X=()=>{K.init(),Q.init()};ke?X():new MutationObserver((t,n)=>{if(document.querySelector(“.js-inno”)){n.disconnect(),X();return}}).observe(document,{attributes:!0,childList:!0,subtree:!0});})();

  • Chester County poll book problems on Election Day were due to human error, insufficient oversight, report finds

    Chester County poll book problems on Election Day were due to human error, insufficient oversight, report finds

    Independent and unaffiliated voters were left off Chester County’s poll books in November’s election due to human error exacerbated by insufficient training, poor oversight and staffing challenges in the county office, an independent firm has concluded.

    In November, more than 12,000 Chester County voters were forced to vote by provisional ballot after the county included just registered Democrats and Republicans in the poll books for the general election. Every voter who wanted to was able to cast a ballot, county officials said, but it resulted in a chaotic scene and the county had to issue an unusually high number of provisional ballots — which require more steps to cast and count.

    On Thursday, the county released a 24-page report from a West Chester law firm detailing how the county failed to include more than 75,000 registered voters in its general election poll books, and evaluating the state and county’s response as it scrambled to ensure those voters could cast ballots.

    “Importantly, our investigation found no evidence of intentional wrongdoing, misconduct, or bad faith on the part of any of the employees who generated the Poll Books. The error was inadvertent and occurred in the course of performing assigned duties under significant time constraints,” the report, prepared by Fleck, Eckert, Klein and McGarry LLC, said.

    “Though the initial selection constituted a human error, the investigation found that the error occurred within a system lacking in: (i) sufficient safeguards, (ii) training, (iii) sufficient supervision, and; (iv) verification controls,” investigators added.

    What’s next in Chester County?

    The firm’s report detailed more than a dozen recommended steps for the county and Department of State to take to prevent future errors.

    In an action plan released Thursday, Chester County officials said they intend to abide by the vast majority of those recommendations, as well as additional steps identified by the county’s Chief Experience Officer.

    Chester County Chief Executive Officer David Byerman said in a statement that the recommendations would be completed within a year, with the most critical steps coming ahead of May’s primary election.

    The action plan included improved training and more strenuous review processes, reevaluation of Voter Services staff levels and pay, and a review of human resources policies in the department. It did not include personnel changes within its Voter Services Department.

    The 25-person department has faced unusually high turnover among staff in recent years, losing 29 employees to resignations, firings and transfers since the current director, Karen Barsoum, took over in 2021.

    Barsoum has faced allegations of fostering a toxic work environment, which Thursday’s report acknowledged. However, the firm concluded that those complaints were not connected to the poll book error and said in its report that employees directly connected to the poll book blunder spoke positively about department management.

    “Moreover, the various causes of the Poll Book issue that we have identified do not appear to have any causal nexus with the types of concerns raised,” the report said.

    How did the error happen?

    According to the report, two employees inadvertently chose the wrong selection of Chester County voters when they used the statewide voter roll software to create November’s poll books. Those employees, the report said, were inexperienced and had never been formally trained on the system they were using. While the employees had a copy of written training materials from the Department of State, the report noted that they worked with “little direct supervision” for their level of experience.

    After the wrong set of voters were chosen — leaving off third party and unaffiliated voters — the report said no one in the department checked the books until a poll worker noticed the problem shortly before polls opened on Election Day.

    The report noted the department’s high turnover, which it said could be the result of the high-pressure environment of election-related work and Chester County’s low pay compared to surrounding counties. That turnover, the report said, created “increased operational risk” which contributed to the error.

    Following the incident, the county said it will review staffing and pay levels for the office as well as its human resources policies.

    “We know that working in elections is an extremely difficult job – one that involves long hours and many personal sacrifices,” Byerman said. “We are truly grateful for the commitment and dedication of the staff in Voter Services, and want to ensure that we are doing everything we can to provide the resources, tools, and support they need to be successful in their roles.”

    The department, the county’s action plan said, will also establish additional approval checks for poll books and other procedures that impact all Chester County voters.

    County officials also said they intend to improve training for the department, including working with the Pennsylvania Department of State to implement formal training on the state’s voter roll system.

    “The Department always stands ready to assist counties with training of employees on the [Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors] system and other aspects of election administration and is happy to engage Chester further to improve its training process,” the Pennsylvania Department of State said in a statement.

    The agency added that its ongoing effort to modernize the statewide voter roll system will include checks and alerts for unusual poll book configurations once completed.

    Chester County is scheduled to hold a public meeting Tuesday evening to present its plan to the public. If the forecasted winter storm closes county offices that day, the meeting will be postponed to Feb. 3.

  • Formal U.S. withdrawal from WHO is decried as ‘scientifically reckless’

    Formal U.S. withdrawal from WHO is decried as ‘scientifically reckless’

    The United States formally withdrew from the World Health Organization on Thursday, one year after President Donald Trump announced plans to pull out of the preeminent global health alliance.

    Trump justified the move based on what he viewed as the “mishandling” of the coronavirus pandemic, a failure to adopt changes and inappropriate political influence from some members.

    The departure stunned global health experts and international authorities because the U.S. had been the most influential member of the 194-member organization and played a key role in its establishment in 1948. It had also historically been the organization’s largest financial contributor.

    “Withdrawing from the World Health Organization is scientifically reckless,” Ronald Nahass, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said in a statement. “It fails to acknowledge the fundamental natural history of infectious diseases. Global cooperation is not a luxury; it is a biological necessity.”

    In announcing the withdrawal, the Department of Health and Human Services said the U.S. will remain a global leader in health, but through “existing and new engagements directly with other countries, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and faith-based entities.”

    During a briefing with reporters, a senior HHS official said U.S.-led global health efforts going forward will rely on the presence that federal health agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, already have in 63 countries and bilateral agreements with “hundreds of countries.”

    “I just want to stress the point that we are not withdrawing from being a leader on global health,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules for the briefing.

    All U.S. personnel and contractors assigned to or embedded with WHO offices have been recalled. All U.S. government funding to the WHO has been terminated, nearly $280 million, according to a person familiar with the government funding who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter on the record. The State Department and HHS did not respond to questions about the funding.

    According to the WHO, the U.S. must meet its financial obligations before withdrawing and the organization’s executive board is set to consider the matter at its February meeting.

    Public health experts have questioned how the U.S. can continue to be a global public health leader.

    Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in June that the U.S. would no longer contribute to Gavi, an independent public-private financing group that buys vaccines and distributes them in low- and middle-income countries. As part of sweeping HHS staffing cuts last year, the CDC’s Global Health Center lost its director and some other employees.

    “It’s almost laughable that the Trump administration thinks they can lead in global health,” said Lawrence Gostin, a law professor at Georgetown University and director of a WHO Collaborating Center for National and Global Health Law. “They’ve decimated the global health capacities of the CDC. They’ve slashed global health funding around the world.”

    It’s unclear how the formal withdrawal will affect some key meetings where U.S. officials have historically played a major role. Next month, the WHO is scheduled to convene a global meeting of influenza experts to decide which virus strains should be included in next season’s flu vaccine, a process that guides vaccine production months in advance.

    Scientists from WHO collaborating centers, including the CDC, other countries’ public health agencies and academic laboratories, review global surveillance data, genetic sequencing and laboratory analyses to assess which influenza strains are spreading and how they are changing.

    In February 2025, CDC scientists were allowed to participate in the WHO meeting. Asked whether CDC scientists would be able to take part next month, the senior HHS official told reporters that there are ongoing conversations and that an announcement will come “in the near future.”

  • Mayor Cherelle Parker’s housing plan is back on track after Council again reapproved $800 million in city bonds

    Mayor Cherelle Parker’s housing plan is back on track after Council again reapproved $800 million in city bonds

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s housing initiative is back on track.

    In its first meeting of the year, City Council on Thursday reapproved a bill to authorize the administration to issue $800 million in bonds to fund the Housing Opportunities Made Easy, or H.O.M.E., initiative.

    Parker wasted no time, signing the bill into law at a news conference Thursday afternoon to fast-track the process for the city to sell the first $400 million tranche of bonds in late March or early April. The administration plans to sell the second $400 million in 2027.

    “We are signing into law the largest and most significant investment in housing in the city of Philadelphia’s history, a $2 billion plan that will create and preserve 30,000 units of housing here in the city of Philadelphia,” Parker said, citing a sum for H.O.M.E.’s budget that also includes other funding steams and the value of city-owned land the administration hopes to redevelop into housing through the plan.

    In March 2025, when Parker unveiled her housing plan — with the goal of helping the city build or preserve 30,000 units of housing in her first term — she wanted to issue the bonds that fall. Council initially approved the bond authorization and other legislation related to H.O.M.E. in June.

    But in the fall, lawmakers made significant changes to a related piece of legislation — which details the $277 million first-year budget for spending the bond proceeds — that triggered a redo of the bond bill.

    The most notable changes, championed by progressive Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier and Rue Landau, lowered the income thresholds for some of the programs funded by H.O.M.E. to prioritize lower-income Philadelphians.

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker unveils her long-awaited plan to build or preserve 30,000 units of housing during a special session of City Council Monday, Mar. 24, 2025. Council President Kenyatta Johnson is at left.

    Parker opposed the amendment, and administration officials testified that H.O.M.E. was meant to serve residents at a variety of income levels, including middle-class households that are struggling but often make too much to qualify for government support programs.

    But Council members argued that even with the new infusion of funds, Philadelphia’s resources are too limited to help the city’s hundreds of thousands of impoverished residents — let alone aid middle-income residents as well.

    “City Council demonstrated through its actions — not just its words — that it’s serious about putting City Hall to work for communities that have too often been left behind,” Gauthier, Landau, and their allies said in a group statement Thursday.

    The dispute proved to be the most significant public disagreement to date between Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson, who sided with Gauthier and Landau.

    The changes required Council to pass an updated bond authorization before moving forward because the previously adopted version no longer aligned with the language in the budget resolution. Lawmakers ran out of time to pass the new bond bill before adjourning for their winter break in December.

    They approved it unanimously on Thursday.

    A couple of hours later, Johnson and Parker profusely praised each other at the bill-signing ceremony, going out of their way to show that their strong working relationship remains intact now that the conflict was behind them.

    “My commitment is to make sure that our 100th, first woman, mayor is successful,” Johnson said.

    The moment of congeniality was a stark contrast to the dynamic between the two late last year.

    Parker at one point said Council’s delay “means homes are not being restored” and “homes are not being built or repaired.” Johnson fired back, “Council’s responsibility is not to rubber-stamp legislation.”

    City Council President Kenyatta Johnson speaking at the City Council’s first session of the year in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.

    But on Thursday, there was enough feel-good energy between the mayor and Council that it extended beyond Johnson to members who have more frequently clashed with the administration.

    Gauthier and Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who questioned the mayor’s agenda last year over concerns that she was taking out too much debt for housing, also stood alongside the mayor at Thursday’s news conference.

    After the delays to her agenda at the end of last year, the mayor appears to be trying to regain control of the narrative this week. Thursday’s bill-signing ceremony marked Parker’s third major update related to H.O.M.E. in three days.

    On Tuesday, she announced that her administration was partnering with the city’s building trades unions and the Philadelphia Housing Authority to redevelop the Brith Sholom House, a notoriously dilapidated senior facility that closed in 2024, into affordable housing for seniors.

    And on Wednesday, she laid out a vision to build a modular housing manufacturing facility on the long-vacant Logan Triangle tract in North Philadelphia. The city issued a request for information from developers potentially interested in building such factories in the city, with a deadline in late March.

    Parker on Thursday only indirectly responded to a question about how many units could be built or repaired in the two years left in her term.

    But she said that her administration is working on a second package of zoning legislation to accelerate home construction in Philadelphia, and that she is working with Council to speed 1,000 properties through the land bank.

    She also expects Gov. Josh Shapiro, at his forthcoming budget address, to announce state-level housing reforms that would help “as it relates to streamlining state processes [to] run more efficiently.”

    Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article.

  • House Republicans barely defeat war powers resolution to check Trump’s military action in Venezuela

    House Republicans barely defeat war powers resolution to check Trump’s military action in Venezuela

    WASHINGTON — The House rejected a Democratic-backed resolution Thursday that would have prevented President Donald Trump from sending U.S. military forces to Venezuela after a tied vote on the legislation fell just short of the majority needed for passage.

    Democrats forced the vote on the war powers resolution to direct the president to remove U.S. troops from the South American nation, bringing up a debate in the Republican-controlled Congress on Trump’s aggressions in the Western Hemisphere.

    The Trump administration told senators last week that there are no U.S. troops on the ground in Venezuela and committed to getting congressional approval before launching major military operations there. But Democrats argued that the resolution is necessary after the U.S. raid to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and since Trump has stated plans to control the country’s oil industry for years to come.

    Thursday’s vote was the latest test in Congress of how much leeway Republicans will give a president who campaigned on removing the U.S. from foreign entanglements but has increasingly reached for military options to impose his will in the Western Hemisphere. So far, almost all Republicans have declined to put checks on Trump through the war powers votes.

    Rep. Brian Mast, the Republican chair of the House Armed Services Committee, accused Democrats of bringing the war powers resolution to a vote out of “spite” for Trump.

    “It’s about the fact that you don’t want President Trump to arrest Maduro, and you will condemn him no matter what he does, even though he brought Maduro to justice with possibly the most successful law enforcement operation in history,” Mast added.

    Still, Democrats stridently argued that Congress needs to assert its role in determining when the president can use wartime powers. They have been able to force a series of votes in both the House and Senate as Trump in recent months ramped up his campaign against Maduro and set his sights on other conflicts overseas.

    “Donald Trump is reducing the United States to a regional bully with fewer allies and more enemies,” New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during a floor debate. “This isn’t making America great again. It’s making us isolated and weak.”

    Last week, Senate Republicans were only able to narrowly dismiss a Venezuela war powers resolution after the Trump administration persuaded two Republicans to back away from their earlier support. As part of that effort, Secretary of State Marco Rubio committed to a briefing next week before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

    Response to Trump’s foreign policy

    When the House voted on a similar Venezuela war powers resolution last month, three Republican House members — Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has since resigned from Congress — joined Democrats in voting for the legislation. Trump has since carried out the attack on Venezuela to seize Maduro, as well as turned his ambitions to possessing Greenland.

    Trump’s insistence that the U.S. will possess Greenland over the objections of Denmark, a NATO ally, has alarmed some Republicans on Capitol Hill. They have mounted some of the most outspoken objections to almost anything the president has done since taking office.

    Trump this week backed away from military and tariff threats against European allies as he announced that his administration was working with NATO on a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security.

    But Bacon still expressed frustration with Trump’s aggressive foreign policy and planned to vote for the war powers resolution, even though it only applies to Venezuela.

    “I’m tired of all the threats,” he said.

    Trump’s recent military actions — and threats to do more — have reignited a decades-old debate in Congress over the War Powers Act, a law passed in the early 1970s by lawmakers looking to claw back their authority over military actions.

    The war powers debate

    The War Powers Resolution was passed in the Vietnam War era as the U.S. sent troops to conflicts throughout Asia. It attempted to force presidents to work with Congress to deploy troops if there hasn’t already been a formal declaration of war.

    Under the legislation, lawmakers can also force votes on legislation that directs the president to remove U.S. forces from hostilities.

    Presidents have long tested the limits of those parameters, and Democrats argue that Trump in his second term has pushed those limits farther than ever.

    The Trump administration left Congress in the dark ahead of the surprise raid to capture Maduro. It has also used an evolving set of legal justifications to blow up alleged drug boats and seize sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela.

    Democrats question benefits from Venezuelan oil licenses

    As the Trump administration oversees the sale of Venezuela’s petroleum worldwide, Senate Democrats are questioning who is benefitting from the contracts.

    In one of the first transactions, the U.S. granted Vitol, the world’s largest independent oil broker, a license worth roughly $250 million. A senior partner at Vitol, John Addison, gave roughly $6 million to Trump-aligned political action committees during the presidential election, according to donation records compiled by OpenSecrets.

    “Congress and the American people deserve full transparency regarding any financial commitments, promises, deals, or other arrangements related to Venezuela that could favor donors to the President’s campaign and political operation,” 13 Democratic senators wrote to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Thursday in a letter led by Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California.

    The White House has said it is safeguarding the South American country’s oil for the benefit of both the people of Venezuela and the U.S.

  • Trump appointees ask about White House ballroom’s design and scale — and want to see models

    Trump appointees ask about White House ballroom’s design and scale — and want to see models

    Some of Donald Trump’s handpicked appointees who have a say in his White House ballroom project asked questions Thursday about its “immense” design and scale, even as they broadly endorsed the president’s vision for a massive expansion.

    The Commission on Fine Arts discussion, which also included a brief review of mostly negative public comments on Trump’s plans, revealed no immediate threat to Trump’s overall idea, which historic preservationists are separately asking a federal court to slow down. But it demonstrated the sensitivity and political controversy involved since the president approved the demolition of the East Wing after unveiling designs that would more than double the square footage the White House as it was before.

    “This is an important thing to the president. It’s an important thing to the nation,” said the new Fine Arts chairman, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., in the panel’s first public hearing on Trump’s proposal.

    “You can’t have the United States of America entertaining people in tents,” Cook said, noting that administrations long before Trump complained about having to host State Dinners and major events in temporary structures. The question, the chairman added, is “if we can do this in a way that this building remains” true to its fundamental character and still “take care of what the president wants us to do.”

    3D scale models requested by Fine Arts commissioners

    After lead architect Shalom Baranes presented renderings during Thursday’s online meeting, commissioners asked him to return to a future, in-person session with 3D scale models of the White House complex with the proposed addition. Baranes said an in-person presentation, per commissioners’ request, also would include include scale models of the Treasury Department building to the east of the presidential mansion and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to the west.

    Baranes and commissioners alike came into meeting aware of concerns about the project’s scale and whether it can be incorporated well enough into the White House, even as Trump remains undeterred.

    “President Trump is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again, including his historic beautification of the White House,” said West Wing spokesman Davis Ingle.

    The total addition would be almost 90,000 square feet, Baranes confirmed, with 22,000 of that the ballroom itself. The White House was about 55,000 square feet before the East Wing, first built in 1902 and expanded in the 1940s, was demolished.

    Thomas Luebke, the commission’s executive director, told the group that public comments received online ahead of the meeting were “almost all” negative “in some way,” criticizing the process, the design or both.

    Luebke read one comment that he described as “more positive” because it complimented the design and style shown in renderings. Yet even that commenter, Luebke said, wrote that “the scale appears oversized, making the main structure dominated.” Nodding to the criticism, Baranes emphasized that current plans call for the addition’s north boundary to be set back from the existing North Portico — essentially the front porch — and for the top of the new structure to be even with the primary facade of the White House and its residence.

    The view of the White House

    Baranes, whose firm has worked on other federal buildings, said this is to ensure the view of the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue would not change fundamentally. A new east side colonnade connecting the main structure to the ballroom addition also would be two stories, rather than the single story that was demolished. This would add to the continuity of the new design, Baranes said.

    He added that architects have contemplated a similar second story atop the West Wing to address concerns about symmetry. But he said during questioning that is merely a concept. There has been no structural analysis of the existing West Wing, he said, to determine if it could support another level.

    Some commissioners said they appreciated Baranes’ effort to address scale and symmetry on the north side of the White House, which front Pennsylvania Avenue. But they noted that still doesn’t address how much the design might change the view from the South Lawn. Renderings show a 10-column, multistory porch on the south side of the addition that looks more like the Treasury Department edifice than any part of the White House.

    “It’s immense,” Cook said to Baranes. “If the president just wants cover, do you think you might be able to tone down that element?”

    The architect answered: “We looked at ways of covering it at different scales with different numbers of columns, and there’s a president’s desire to proceed with this one.”

    The meeting Thursday was part of a series of meetings and public hearings with the Fine Arts panel and the National Capital Planning Commission, both of which have roles in assessing and approving federal construction projects in Washington.

    A judge could suspend the project

    Historic preservationists are seeking a court order for the Trump administration to suspend construction of its $400 million ballroom project. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon didn’t rule from the bench on Thursday after hearing arguments from attorneys for the government and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

    Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, said he hopes to issue a decision sometime next month on the group’s request for a preliminary injunction. But he acknowledged that his decision likely will be appealed no matter how he rules.

    Plaintiff’s attorney Thad Heuer said the president — a temporary occupant of the White House — needed and didn’t have congressional approval before embarking on a project of this magnitude and cost.

    “He isn’t the landlord,” Heuer said. “He is a steward.”

    Government lawyer Jacob Roth argued that the president has the statutory authority and broad discretion to modify the White House. Stopping in the middle of the project would create problems, including security concerns for the president, Roth said.

    “I don’t think there’s any question that this modernization is in the public’s interest,” he told the judge.