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Ryan Teague Beckwith: Pomp and circumstance
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Since Teddy Roosevelt, American presidents have regularly given commencement addresses at this time of year.
They have used these speeches to college graduates to explain their approach to foreign policy, poke fun at themselves, offer deeply personal reflections or just share their advice on life.
But setting aside the substance of the speeches, the locations themselves are telling — and that is especially true for President Donald Trump.
Over the years, presidents have made a statement by speaking at their own alma maters, notable universities in battleground states, faith-based institutions, historically Black colleges, women’s colleges, trade schools and even community colleges, plus giving regular graduation addresses at the nation’s military service academies.
Earlier this month, Trump spoke at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for the second time since his first term. Last year, he spoke at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, another repeat. In his first term, he also spoke at the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy.
But the only nonmilitary colleges at which Trump has given commencement addresses in both of his terms were the private, evangelical Liberty University in 2017 and the University of Alabama in 2025, both just months after taking office.
That is a striking break from his predecessors, and there are four major reasons for it.
Read Ryan Teague Beckwith’s analysis here.
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Will you watch any America 250 events?
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As part of the celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary, organizers announced a lineup of musicians who are slated to perform on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Two of them have already said they will not be performing.
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Here are some more highlights of the president’s actions over the past seven days:
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- Announced a plan to lower grocery prices by loosening rules on grocery stores’ greenhouse gas emissions
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The news can feel overwhelming. But each week, we pause to highlight a person, organization or movement sticking up for their principles. This week’s challengers are the so-called YOLO Caucus.
Trump’s grip on congressional Republicans shows signs of loosening. The latest indicator comes from what The Associated Press calls an emerging “YOLO caucus” — named after the popular Millennial slang acronym for “You Only Live Once.” This growing coalition of independent-minded lawmakers includes Republicans who lost their primaries to Trump-backed challengers, such as Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie; high-profile retirees like Sens. Mitch McConnell and Thom Tillis and Rep. Don Bacon, who no longer have to worry about primary voters; and moderates such as Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, whose political survival relies on keeping some distance from the White House. Learn more.
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On Tuesdays, you can expect to receive a special edition of the Project 47 newsletter dedicated to covering the biggest issues shaping key races in the midterm elections. If you would prefer to opt out of the special midterms edition of the newsletter, click here and you will automatically be removed.
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This year is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There will be celebrations across the country (that’s a whole other story), and for some in the administration, it appears to be a great opportunity to get the president’s face out there. Literally. On a new $250 bill. The Washington Post reports that the director of the agency in charge of printing up our money was reassigned when she pushed back, telling colleagues in a goodbye email, “The buck stopped here.” Only a “deceased individual” can be featured on U.S. currency, but that hasn’t stopped the administration from also pushing for a one-dollar coin and a gold coin with Trump’s face to celebrate our 250 years. As for the $250 bill, one of many reasons we don’t have high denomination bills — they make life easier for tax evaders and drug dealers and terrorists.
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— Stephanie Ruhle, host of “The 11th Hour”
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On Thursday, June 25, join Rachel Maddow, Ali Velshi and more at our live community event in Philadelphia. They’ll discuss the most pressing issues facing our democracy as we mark America’s 250th anniversary, with special guest civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill. Buy your tickets now.
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