John McClain, a veteran NFL writer and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, writes a brief history of sports in our first 250 years and notes the power of sports loyalties to unite us despite our differences.

Terry Mattingly, writer of the national "On Religion" column for the Andrews McMeel Universal syndicate and "Rational Sheep," a Substack newsletter on faith and mass media, writes about membership decline in faith denominations.

Tony Pederson, managing fellow of the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics and professor emeritus in journalism at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, writes about the Trump administration placing historic pressures on major news organizations through libel lawsuits and issuing subpoenas.

Carlos Sanchez, a freelance writer based in McAllen, Texas, writes about the controversy known as The Longoria Affair and how it helped launch Mexican American rights. The catalyst involved a young, decorated soldier named Felix Longoria who was killed in action in the Philippines just three months before World War II officially ended in 1945.

Jared Schroeder, an associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts, writes that human decisions are being made about what AI tools do and act. AI tools are challenging people to determine what limits should be placed on them by individual citizens and the government to protect the nation.

Robert F. Darden, a professor emeritus in Journalism at Baylor University and a member of the Overby Center panel of experts, writes about the complex relationship between 4th of July-styled patriotism and Black gospel music.