America's 250th anniversary is two years away, but Philadelphia's massive celebration starts now.

Why it matters: As the cradle of American democracy, Philly is planning for a blowout year in 2026 to mark the Semiquincentennial alongside FIFA World Cup matches and the MLB All-Star Game.

Driving the news: A special TED Talks series tied to the anniversary kicks off today.

• The first TED Democracy fireside chat will explore civic engagement and the opportunities afforded in a democratic society at the National Constitution Center from 5-7pm.
• Baratunde Thurston, a comedian and writer known for his hit podcast "How to Citizen," and NPR president and CEO Katherine Maher are slated to speak at the event.
• A.J. Jacobs, a best-selling author and host of "The Puzzler" podcast, will then lead a group discussion and Q&A with the audience.

🍿 How to watch: The live show, co-organized with Visit Philly, is sold out but you can watch a livestream of the event at The Fallser Club and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

• The watch parties are free but registration is required.

The big picture: The event comes as the contentious presidential race between President Biden and former President Trump is at a friction point, with a growing number of Democrats calling for Biden to withdraw in recent days.

• As the largest city in a critical swing state, Philly will play an outsized role in the upcoming election.

Meanwhile, fundraising is in full swing for the city's 250th anniversary bash.

• Nonprofit Philadelphia250 has a budget of about $15 million for the events it's helping organize for the 2026 anniversary, per the Philadelphia Business Journal.
• The group has to raise another $8.5 million and is still scouting for sponsorships, according to the Business Journal.

What's next: Two more TED fireside chats are scheduled for September and November, with Gov. Josh Shapiro expected to headline one.

• The other speakers haven't yet been announced.

Plus: The TED Talks will continue next year with a three-part speaker series focused on the state of modern democracy around the world.

• All that will lead up to TED Democracy's daylong symposium event in February 2026.

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Middle-school students in a Philadelphia suburb made fake TikTok accounts impersonating teachers and posting disparaging and inflammatory content, the New York Times reports.

Why it matters: The social media attack at Great Valley Middle School in Malvern — the first of its kind on such a scale in the U.S. — affected at least 20 educators, and led to the suspensions of several students.

• Some teachers say they're now leery of reprimanding students who act out in class because they fear being targeted in future online posts.

Catch up quick: Students culled real photos from teachers' social media profiles and used them to set up fake accounts. They created "low-tech cheapfakes" by cropping, cutting and pasting and superimposing text on photos.

• The messages and memes were "rife with pedophilia innuendo, racist memes, homophobia and made-up sexual hookups among teachers" and viewed by hundreds of students, per the Times.
• The school said it's legally limited in its response due to students' off-campus free speech rights. Mocking and even disparaging educators can be protected free speech as long as the posts don't threaten anyone or substantially disrupt school activities.

The big picture: Several school districts across the U.S. have banned or restricted cellphone use to get students to pay attention in class and become more engaged with their peers.

• Last year, officials in nearby Bucks County sued social media companies, including TikTok and Instagram, over allegations their platforms exploit youth and exacerbate their rates of anxiety and depression.

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🥃 The Black-owned Diggs Boys Bourbon hopes to open a distillery and tasting room in Philly next year. (Philadelphia Voice)

📸 Tow truck drivers will soon have to provide photographic evidence of a violation before they can haul away a vehicle.

• Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the legislation yesterday, which takes effect in 60 days. (NBC)

🔎 David McCormick, the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate, has come under fire for asserting he once led a Pittsburgh-based software company that "created hundreds of jobs."

• McCormick denied reports that the company shed local jobs while growing overseas. (WHYY)

One of the city's oldest Wawas closes its doors today.

Why it matters: The store at 3230 Richmond Street in Port Richmond is among at least eight Wawa closings in Philadelphia in recent years.

Driving the news: The Northeast Philly outpost is open from 5am-11pm before shutting its doors for the last time after 45 years.

What they're saying: Wawa spokesperson Jennifer Wolf said in a statement the store "cannot deliver the experience customers deserve or continue to meet performance expectations."

The big picture: The company, based in Media, Pennsylvania, celebrated its 60th anniversary of operating convenience stores earlier this year.

• Wawa still runs 36 stores in Philly, two fewer than in 2016.

What's next: The convenience chain is closing another location at the corner of 21st and Hamilton streets in September after the property owner didn't renew the lease.

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