Everton Blair Makes History as South’s First Black, Openly Gay Member of Congress
Democrat Everton Blair made history Tuesday after winning a special election runoff in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District. Blair defeated Marcye Scott, daughter of the late U.S. Rep. David Scott, 53% to 47%, according to unofficial results. His victory makes him the first Black, openly gay person elected to Congress from a Southern state and Georgia’s first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress.
Background: Blair will serve the remaining months of Scott’s term, which ends in January. The victory gives Georgia’s Black LGBTQ+ community a historic voice in Congress while restoring Democratic representation in the deep-blue Atlanta-area district. Blair previously served as chair of the Gwinnett County Board of Education. He was elected to the board in 2018 at age 26, becoming its first Black and youngest-ever member before later serving as chairman.
Target Faces Backlash After Halloween Costume Sparks Blackface Concerns
Target is facing backlash after pulling a children’s Halloween costume that critics said evoked Blackface and racist minstrel-show imagery. The retailer removed its “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume” from stores and its website after images of a Black child modeling the costume spread online. Critics pointed to the costume’s exaggerated grin, black gloves and styling, saying the design resembled racist caricatures used to demean Black people during the Jim Crow era. Target issued an apology on Aug. 24.
Why It Matters: The controversy comes months after Target faced a Black-led boycott over its rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The yearlong boycott began in 2025 and ended in March after organizers said Target agreed to recommit to supporting Black-owned businesses and brands. For critics, the costume controversy raises fresh questions about whether Target has truly learned from its recent battles over race and inclusion.
Letitia James Leads Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s New Mail-In Ballot Rules
New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 23 other attorneys general and Pennsylvania’s governor sued the U.S. Postal Service Wednesday over new rules governing mail-in ballots ahead of the November midterm elections. The lawsuit challenges rules issued at President Donald Trump’s direction that require states to provide USPS with lists of voters eligible for mail ballots and obtain federal approval for ballot-envelope designs. The states argue USPS lacks the authority to create its own eligibility requirements or reject ballots from voters who qualify under state law.
The Bigger Picture: James and the coalition are asking a federal court to immediately block the USPS rule while the case proceeds and ultimately strike it down. A hearing on the states’ request for a new restraining order is scheduled for Sept. 3. The lawsuit comes two days after the Supreme Court lifted an earlier injunction blocking Trump’s mail-voting order. The court did not rule on whether the order is legal.
Appeals Court Keeps Federal Charges Against Rep. LaMonica McIver Alive
A federal appeals court Wednesday rejected Rep. LaMonica McIver’s effort to dismiss charges stemming from a confrontation with federal agents outside an immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. A divided panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that McIver’s congressional immunity does not shield her from prosecution on two charges alleging she assaulted or interfered with federal officers at Delaney Hall in May 2025. The court sent a third charge back to a lower court for further review.
What’s Next? The case can proceed toward trial, although McIver’s legal team has indicated it is considering further options. A trial date has not been set as her appeals continue. McIver, a New Jersey Democrat, has pleaded not guilty and argued that she was conducting congressional oversight when the confrontation occurred. She has denied wrongdoing and said the prosecution threatens lawmakers’ ability to oversee the executive branch.
State Department Removes Obama-Era Artwork From U.S. Embassy
The State Department has removed a painting by Kehinde Wiley, the artist who created former President Barack Obama’s official portrait, from the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and is exploring whether it can sell the work. The 2013 painting, “Young Artists After Siamesas 1960,” depicts four Dominican models against a floral background. State Department Art in Embassies Director Erin Scavino called the work “woke” and “aesthetically terrifying,” while Ambassador Leah Campos said the administration was moving away from “globalist and woke ideologies” in favor of American patriotism.
Why It Matters: The move fits President Donald Trump’s broader campaign against DEI and what his administration describes as “woke” ideology. Trump signed executive orders ending federal DEI programs and targeting race-based preferences, while his administration has also moved to eliminate diversity-related policies across federal agencies.