Tom Cotton vs. the 1619 Project: When it was first created, the 1619 Project was hailed as a revolutionary piece of journalism. It contained a series of essays, a broadsheet section and a podcast, all of which analyze slavery as a central part of American history. Though the project was awarded  the Pulitzer Prize and has been incorporated into school lesson plans across the country, it has also received pushback from a few vocal opponents. Writing for the Washington Post, Teo Armus examines the pushback to the 1619 Project led by Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, and the online debate that pushed the series further into the spotlight.

NYT pilots disability-friendly section: To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the New York Times opinion section is piloting a series on living with disabilities, Sarah Scire writes for NiemanLab. In addition to publishing a wide variety of pieces from writers with disabilities, the section is also experimenting with production and design techniques to make the section more accessible to readers. The series includes audio versions of every article, improved alternative text for people with screen readers and a braille version that will be available through the New York Times store. The Times has also tweaked its style guide for the issue, allowing writers and sources to capitalize words like “blind” and “deaf” in their pieces.

DHS surveils journalists: In response to the waves of protests against police brutality in Portland, the Departland of Homeland Security (DHS) began compiling intelligence reports on journalists covering the unrest. The reports, normally reserved for individuals suspected of violence and terrorism, highlighted editors and reporters from the New York Times and Lawfare who published leaked documents about the DHS’s involvement in the Portland protests. After the story was released, acting homeland security secretary Chad Wolf launched an investigation into the issue. Writing for the Washington Post, Shane Harris uncovers the story behind the intelligence reports and explores next steps for the DHS.

By Maya Homan & Matt Carroll