Civics

A Broomfield, Colorado middle schooler, Peter Daniell, won the 2026 National Civics Bee Championship in Washington, D.C., besting 51 other finalists in a buzzer-round competition testing knowledge of the Constitution, civic challenges and American government. The national competition began with roughly 20,000 students from 240 communities before narrowing to the 52 finalists who competed across multiple rounds of knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving challenges.

Daniell clinched the title by correctly identifying the Whiskey Rebellion as the name given to farmers' resistance to a federal tax on distilled spirits during George Washington's presidency. Colorado Governor Jared Polis congratulated Daniell, calling the win a testament to his hard work and to the state's commitment to education. As champion, Daniell receives a $100,000 contribution toward a 529 educational savings plan.

Southern Methodist University has canceled plans to host the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium, a civic engagement event for high school and college students, citing Gov. Greg Abbott's November designation of CAIR as a "foreign terrorist organization." The designation stems from Texas Senate Bill 1900, a 2023 law originally framed as targeting cartel networks, which allows the governor to label groups as foreign terrorist organizations and subjects their property to seizure and their members to enhanced criminal penalties and state surveillance.

CAIR has never been criminally charged and does not operate outside the U.S., but Abbott's declaration cites the group's alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood and a 2009 terrorism financing case. CAIR is challenging the designation in court and is seeking a new venue for the September conference. Florida enacted a similar designation against CAIR in December, restricting the group's access to state funds. Civil liberties advocates warn such laws, now present in 32 states, raise First Amendment concerns and risk chilling free speech and campus discourse.