Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is under attack by the Left for highlighting the contrast between the Trump administration and its predecessor when it comes to DEI. Recently, the Department of Transportation announced $1.73 billion in awards through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant program, or BUILD grant program, and directed nearly 77% of that funding toward projects on roads and bridges. Duffy was quick to compare President Donald Trump’s approach to infrastructure and transportation to former President Joe Biden’s, whose DOT was led by Pete Buttigieg. “Remember when Biden and Boot-edge-edge used YOUR MONEY for DEI bike lanes and climate change?” Duffy posted on X. “THAT’S OVER” “I just redirected $1.73 billion in USDOT grants away from Biden-era DEI pet projects,” the post continued. “Now this funding is officially locked in to fix America’s actual backbone: ROADS, BRIDGES, AND SHIPPING PORTS.” Remember when Biden and Boot-edge-edge used YOUR MONEY for DEI bike lanes and climate change?THAT’S OVERI just redirected $1.73 billion in USDOT grants away from Biden-era DEI pet projectsNow this funding is officially locked in to fix America’s actual backbone: ROADS,… pic.twitter.com/J9PuCgTqAv— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) July 7, 2026 “America is fortunate to have a Builder in the White House who knows America is only as great as our infrastructure,” the announcement on the department’s website read. “That’s why this Department is investing in repairing critical roads and bridges that connect Americans to job opportunities, port infrastructure that bolsters our national security, and aviation and transit projects that move American families. The impact of these dollars will be felt in communities nationwide for years to come.” The announcement sparked pushback from leftist media outlets accusing Duffy of politicizing the funding. MSNBC’s Maddow Blog questioned why the transportation secretary was “complaining about ‘DEI bike lanes,” while The New Republic ran a piece titled “Trump Secretary Says Bike Lanes Are DEI.” But it was Biden and Buttigieg, not Trump and Duffy, that made bike lanes and DEI one and the same. The phrase "DEI bike lanes" should finally put to rest the question of whether "DEI" has become a generic slur unconnected to any concrete definition. https://t.co/nKAQRHO7LK— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) July 9, 2026 Through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant program, or “RAISE” grant program, the Biden administration invested $562 million in bike and pedestrian projects in FY 2023 alone, according to the Climate Program Portal. The funding supported 41 projects in 27 states. According to a 2025 poll by Statista Consumer Insights, 73 percent of American commuters use their own car to commute to work, while only 9 percent ride their bike. Buttigieg was not shy about connecting these projects to DEI, racial justice, and climate change. In 2021, Buttigieg said a $1 billion investment in RAISE was to “advance equity, and combat climate change.” That investment included $20 million for Seattle to “reconstruct a 1.1-mile segment of the East Marginal Way roadway” with a “separated bike lane.” In 2023, Buttigieg boasted the department was investing $1.5 billion to “address climate change, ensure racial equity, and remove barriers to opportunity.” A recent investigation by the New York Post found that the Biden-Buttigieg DOT spent at least $80 billion on DEI projects. In 2025, Trump and Duffy reverted the name and the mission of the grant program to BUILD. The $1.73 billion—77% of the BUILD grants—will be spent on improving ports, railroads, bridges, and more. Port infrastructure will receive a $136.8 million investment; $169.9 million is going toward transit projects, $11 million to aviation infrastructure, and $87.7 million to America’s railroads. Duffy’s investment secured funding for 127 projects across all 50 states and is even being celebrated by some Democrats. Virginia Democrat Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine celebrated the over $76 million investment from BUILD for transportation and infrastructure projects in Virginia. BIG NEWS: Virginia is getting more than $76 million in federal funding for transportation projects that will expand passenger rail, reduce traffic congestion, and strengthen our infrastructure!I’m proud to help deliver investments that make it easier for Virginians to get where…— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) July 7, 2026 Perhaps more Democrats will come out in favor of Trump and Duffy shifting the focus away from DEI and to delivering a better transportation system for Americans, but I’m not holding my breath.

That New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his embrace of Democratic Socialists would urge residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees wasn’t surprising. What was shocking, however, was that the city government of Columbus, in the red state of Ohio, would be causing utility issues for hundreds of customers. Incompetent city government is something you can encounter anywhere you go. However, I never thought I’d experience it to such a level in Columbus, where they shut off our water during the hottest days in years. It wasn’t just our family of seven, which includes young children and those with special needs. Hundreds of residents were affected. Why? To force compliance with new water meters. The move occurred during the recent heat wave, right before the holiday weekend. According to a report published by ABC 6 on July 1, Columbus Water & Power had shut off more than 300 customers’ water service by that point since the heat wave started. Between June 29 and July 1, 194 customers had their water shut off. Heat indexes in Ohio those days exceeded 100 degrees. Meanwhile, after turning off the water, Columbus had the audacity to still remind residents to stay hydrated. Residents were supposedly contacted via mail and door hangers informing them that they needed to replace their water meter as part of the Enhanced Meter Project. Such notices were no doubt likely perceived as junk mail. Customers were also supposed to be reached by telephone call and mailers, but we later found out from the department that we were contacted via a number that is not ours. So we never actually received notice in that manner. I can’t speak for other residences, but we never saw seven notices. That ABC 6 report included claims from the city that it had reached out to customers more than half a dozen times. “George Zonders with the City of Columbus said anyone who has their water shut off for failure to schedule an EMP appointment has at least seven notifications between the initial invitation to schedule an appointment and actually shutting off the water. The policy for turn-offs prioritize the ability to turn them back on swiftly,” the report mentioned. “Columbus Water & Power’s turn-off policy for water prioritizes the customer’s ability to address the cause of the turn-off and, more importantly, get their water service restored either later that day or the next day at the latest. This means no turn-offs are done on Fridays or the day before a holiday since our offices are closed,” Zonders said. “Swiftly” is subjective. While we were later told that customers were contacted when their water was shut off, we found out by our water suddenly not turning on. This included sinks, showers, and the toilet tank. Thankfully, we had enough water bottles to use for washing and drinking, though our supply was depleted. We reached out to the department upon the water being turned off. We were on hold over the phone for hours. We were eventually told that the water would be turned on hopefully that day by 5 p.m., or the next day. We were without water service from Wednesday afternoon until late Thursday morning. Thankfully, we are fortunate to have family nearby who did have water. I sent email on Wednesday evening, after 5 p.m. had come and gone, and it was clear that our water wasn’t being restored that evening. The department got back to us via a call the following Tuesday, a full six days later. Despite our demands, the representative who spoke to us said that they would not be issuing credits. I have yet to uncover any press releases or social media posts from the city acknowledging the severe incompetence and poor decision-making. The last press release on the website is from June 23, “Columbus Water & Power Encourages Drinking Tap Water on National Hydration Day.” There have also been Facebook/Instagram posts since then, but there appear to be none about shutting off water. A post from June 30 shared department representatives at Impact’s Beat the Heat event. Many chimed in to reply taking issue with the new monthly billing system. Another, from July 6, expressed hope that residents enjoyed their Independence Day celebrations and advertised a smart thermostat. We reached out to the mayor’s office for a comment on the appropriateness of such a decision to force compliance during the heat wave, but did not hear back before publication. I lived in New York over a decade ago. It’s a distant memory, and I feel blessed to not be subject to Mamdani’s reign. Even in a red state, though, incompetent government, to the point of creating a dangerous situation, seems to be par for the course. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of the Daily Signal.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah is leading the call to honor Sen. Lindsey Graham by passing the SAVE America Act. Graham died Saturday evening at the age of 71 shortly after discussing the voting integrity bill with President Donald Trump. “This is something Lindsey Graham spent a lot of time with,” Lee told Maria Bartiromo on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” program, “One of the best ways we could honor Lindsey Graham’s legacy would be to take this up and pass it this month.” "One of the best ways we could honor Lindsey Graham's legacy would be to take this up and pass it this month."@SenMikeLee discusses the SAVE America Act, election security, and the path forward for advancing the legislation in the Senate.Watch the full interview with… pic.twitter.com/7Vmd6hmZmI— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) July 12, 2026 The bill, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and voter ID to cast a ballot, was top of mind for Graham in their final conversation just prior to his death, according to Trump, who called the senator a “strong advocate” for the bill. Lindsey Graham called President Trump last night—in what might well have been his final phone call—to discuss the SAVE America Act.To the very end, Lindsey was a passionate lawmaker. pic.twitter.com/KargRDSn9w— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) July 12, 2026 The president told “Meet the Press” on Sunday that Graham had phoned him early Saturday evening after arriving home from a trip to Ukraine. “He called and he said, ‘We’re all set on the SAVE America Act’. He was pushing the SAVE America Act like crazy.” Graham admitted he was tired, then repeated his desire to pass the Act. “And I said, ‘We’re going to get it done, Lindsey. We’re going to get it done. I’ll see you soon.’” The pair even talked about meeting up today.  “And then that was it.” Soon after the call, Graham died. During his appearance on Fox News, Lee laid out “multiple paths” for passing the SAVE America Act: Attaching it to a must-pass vehicle. “Bringing it up on the floor” of the Senate and debating it until it passes. An approach called a “talking filibuster” that Lee has long advocated and believes has the best chance of working. “Picking out pieces of it that could be implemented through creative uses of budget reconciliation.”

“We have lost a gentleman from an older era of civility and selflessness.” So wrote Harmeet K. Dhillon, deputy attorney general for Civil Rights on the surprise death of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Graham, a Republican, died Saturday evening at the age of 71 after what his office called a “brief and sudden illness.” His death sent shockwaves across Washington, South Carolina, and indeed the world. “He’s a tough one to lose,” said President Donald Trump. Former President Joe Biden, a longtime colleague of Graham’s in both the House and Senate, expressed his condolences. “We disagreed often, and sometimes loudly,” Biden posted on X. “Lindsey and I did agree on the profound importance of public service,” the former president added, “Like me, he loved the Senate as an institution, even with all its flaws and complexities.” Jill and I are shocked by the sudden passing of Lindsey Graham.Lindsey and I served together in Congress for over a decade, and worked closely on many issues throughout the years. We traveled the world together as members of the Senate Foreign Relations committee. We disagreed…— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 12, 2026 The Vice President Shares a Story “We certainly had our disagreements. But I couldn’t help but like him,” Vice President JD Vance posted on X. “A one of a kind figure in our politics”. Vance shared a story about an encounter with Graham while a freshman senator from Ohio. Early in my Senate tenure, I remember getting into a shouting match with Lindsey about a Ukraine funding bill at lunch and then learning the very next day that he was pushing rail legislation I really cared about behind the scenes. That was Lindsey Graham. He fought like hell for the things he believed in, and he was just as willing to go to bat for you when it counted The Senate Reacts Graham’s Senate colleagues were quick to share their grief and memories of the man known as much on Capitol Hill for his warmth and wit as his unwavering defense of national security. “My heart is heavy this morning to learn of the passing of my friend and colleague,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune posted on X.  “He believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world and dedicated his life to advancing that cause.” My heart is heavy this morning to learn of the passing of my friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham. Lindsey’s long and dedicated service in the Air Force and in Congress carried him to far-flung regions of the world. He was a strong advocate for the United States and a…— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) July 12, 2026 Fellow South Carolinian Sen. Tim Scott mourned the loss of his close friend.“From his humble beginnings to the Senate floor, Lindsey always led with faith, family, and South Carolina first,” Scott said. “Lindsey remained committed to public service and doing what he loved. He always introduced levity and brought wit to the most challenging moments. Lindsey will be missed.” South Carolina lost a statesman and I’ve lost a friend. My prayers are with his sister and the rest of his family. From his humble beginnings to the Senate floor, Lindsey always led with faith, family, and South Carolina first. Lindsey remained committed to public service…— Senator Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) July 12, 2026 Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, also commented on Graham’s warmth and wit, saying, “I loved serving with Lindsey and will miss his infectious laugh, quick wit, and enthusiasm for life.” From Air Force Colonel to a conservative force in the US Senate, Senator Lindsey Graham served America with honor, grit, and dedication. He was a trusted leader, a time-tested diplomat, a true patriot. Please keep his family in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/WQsGNr2yqU— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) July 12, 2026 Sharing an image of the two laughing together, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called Graham a “fearless patriot” and “one of the fiercest advocates for America’s national security.” “His friendship, his sparkling humor, and his unwavering commitment to our nation will be deeply missed.” Lindsey was a fearless patriot, a devoted public servant, and one of the fiercest advocates for America’s national security. He loved this country deeply, and he dedicated his life to defending it.For years, I had the privilege of serving alongside Lindsey in the Senate. We… pic.twitter.com/YfdHdhe8Tg— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) July 12, 2026 Condolences also came from across the aisle. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar remembered her “friend,” noting his rough upbringing, which included the death of both his parents at a young age. It was a shock this morning to find out that my friend Lindsey Graham has died. He was a man who loved his work, his country, and his family. He didn’t have an easy life growing up and to me that explained a lot about him as well as his devotion to his remaining family members… pic.twitter.com/KJ1fl2XOJ8— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) July 12, 2026 “The United States Senate lost a foreign policy giant,” Sen. John Fetterman posted. “On a personal level, he had always been kind, gracious, and thoughtful.” Sudden and awful news about Senator Lindsey Graham.The United States Senate lost a foreign policy giant. On a personal level, he had always been kind, gracious, and thoughtful.Gisele and I extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and staff.— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) July 12, 2026 Leaders of Ukraine, Israel Offer Praise Foreign policy was, as Fetterman noted, Graham’s bread and butter. His impact on the global stage is seen in the strong reaction from nations he championed. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commended Graham for having been “with our people when it was most needed.”The senator had just returned from another trip to Ukraine, where he toured a drone factory, announced a new Russia sanctions bill, and met with Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials. Graham, he said, was “a true defender of freedom and the values that make the world safer.” Deeply saddened by the news of the passing of United States Senator Lindsey Graham. Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia's full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it… pic.twitter.com/7oE2F5ZDAy— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 12, 2026 That included remaining up to the end a steadfast ally of Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saluted Graham for his support of the Jewish State and personal friendship.“Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world,” Netayahu said on X. “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.” Sara and I grieve with the American people over the loss of our dear friend, Senator Lindsey Graham.In our recent meeting, I said, "Lindsey is a great friend of Israel and a cherished friend of mine. We have no better friend than Lindsey."Lindsey understood that the security… pic.twitter.com/JG2mUUAfFT— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 12, 2026 Later, in a Sunday morning interview on Fox News, Netanyahu noted how Graham wasn’t shy in expressing his views. “There was no BS. He just was so direct,” Netanyahu said. “And if he wanted to tell you something that you may not like, he would just do it.” U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee saluted Graham’s defense of the Jewish state and added, “I’m going to personally miss his outrageous sense of humor.” South Carolina Mourns Its Native Son As hard as Graham fought globally, he remained a vocal advocate back home for the Palmetto State. He was, as Rep. Ralph Norman called him, “a son of South Carolina who loved our state dearly.” “He loved our country, but he loved South Carolina, and he loved going home,” South Carolina native and Fox News anchor Ainsley Earhardt summarized. Rep. Joe Wilson, who has already expressed interest in being named to Graham’s seat, said Graham “will always be cherished as an American Patriot.” Rep. Russell Fry called the “unexpected loss” of Graham “difficult to comprehend,” adding that Graham was “an extraordinary public servant” and a “consequential leader.” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who will have the task of appointing an interim senator, said Graham is “irreplaceable.” “The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend,” McMaster said. “We grieve with Darline, his family and his devoted staff. May God hold him gently in the palm of his hand. We shall not see his likes again.” Regardless of anyone's feelings about Lindsey Graham, this will still be one of the funniest photos in recent history. pic.twitter.com/miE62DnTzJ— Oscar Von Reuenthal (@OscarVReuenthal) July 12, 2026

The lawyer for E. Jean Carroll, the former magazine columnist who accused President Donald Trump of sexual assault, is facing scrutiny over outside funding of the case by a left-leaning billionaire. The National Legal and Policy Center, a watchdog group, filed a bar complaint with the Attorney Grievance Committee of the New York State Supreme Court against Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan, alleging she was not transparent about left-leaning billionaire Reid Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn, helping bankroll Carroll’s lawsuit. Tax filings from 2023 for Hoffman’s nonprofit, American Future Republic, show it paid $7 million to Carroll’s lawyers to help cover legal expenses, according to the Capital Research Center, which monitors nonprofits. Carroll wrote the 2019 book, “What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal,” in which she said Trump sexually assaulted her in a department store during the 1990s. Trump denied the allegation and called her a “whack job.” She sued him in 2019 for defamation and was awarded $83.3 million by a jury. She sued again in 2022 for remarks Trump made, and she won a separate $5 million judgment. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal in the $5 million case, but his appeal in the $83.3 million judgment is pending. On Wednesday, the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals denied Trump’s effort to pause the $5 million payment to Carroll. The NLPC’s complaint says Kaplan failed to inform Trump’s lawyers and the court when she knew that her client, Carroll, provided false information during a deposition. In October 2022, Carroll was asked under oath if “anyone else [is] paying your legal fees.” Carroll answered, “No.” The bar complaint says, “At that moment, Kaplan knew that answer was false but waited almost six months later, until the eve of the trial, to correct the record by informing opposing counsel and the court that Hoffman had funded the lawsuits.” The complaint says that “hybrid fees” are ethical in some instances, but suggests there could be a problem with an “excessive fee” under New York ethics rules for lawyers. “Did Ms. Kaplan charge Ms. Carroll the maximum one-third contingency fee and, on top of that, was paid an additional hourly fee from Reid Hoffman’s nonprofit for certain work?” the complaint asks. “If so, the total fee charged would be an excessive fee, even if the excess over the contingency fee was paid by a third party.” A spokesperson for the New York law firm Kaplan Martin, where Kaplan practices, did not comment on the complaint but said Trump already litigated this issue of Hoffman’s subsidy at the U.S. 2nd Court of Appeals, which rejected the claim about a lack of disclosure. The 2nd Circuit determined, “There was no evidence to suggest that Ms. Carroll was personally involved in securing the funding, interacted with the funder, received an invoice showing the arrangement before or after her counsel received the outside funding, or had discussed the arrangement with anyone between learning of it in September 2020 and being deposed in October 2022.” The appeals court determined that “Carroll’s prior statement on the litigation funding was not sufficiently probative of her credibility.” It added it showed that “Ms. Carroll was simply not involved in the matter of who was or was not funding her litigation costs.” However, Paul Kamenar, counsel for the National Legal and Policy Center who drafted the 15-page bar complaint against Kaplan, said the 2nd Circuit had nothing to say about Kaplan’s ethical obligations. “Not surprising that Roberta Kaplan did not deny any of these allegations of ethical misconduct in our complaint,” Kamenar told the Daily Signal. “Instead, she cites the Second Circuit that only dealt with E. Jean Carroll’s contact with Reid Hoffman, not Kaplan’s.” Kamenar said courts have historically expected some information to be presented about outside funders, to ensure an outside funder isn’t pulling the strings with an attorney, rather than the client. This year, the Chicago-based American Future Republic was reportedly the target of a probe by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois concerning donations used in the Carroll case. Hoffman previously said in a 2023 Washington Post interview that he never tried to keep his funding secret, and, “My team looked at it, thought that her [Carroll’s] voice should be heard because she was challenging someone who was so much more wealthy and powerful—it shouldn’t be squashed.” The Daily Signal left several voicemail inquiries over the past week with the number listed for the American Future Republic’s filing with the Internal Revenue Service, as well as on other websites. The 2024 filing shows the organization has $7.8 million in assets, with revenue for that year of $286,735. A spokesperson for Hoffman did not respond to Daily Signal inquiries for this story, nor did a spokesperson from Greylock, where Hoffman is part of the investing team.