England fans were put through an emotional rollercoaster as the Three Lions fought back to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo for a place in the last 16 of the World Cup. 

An early goal for DR Congo left England fans fearing the worst, but two goals from Harry Kane in the second half saw Thomas Tuchel‘s men progress into the next round.

The action took place in Atlanta, Georgia, but the 5pm kick-off saw fans slip away from work to fill up pubs and fan parks across the country for the round of 32 clash.

Millions watched in agony at home along with tens of thousands in the Atlanta Stadium, as the central African side took the lead after just seven minutes.

An anxious wait to the 75th minute followed before skipper Harry Kane pulled level.

England then took the lead in the 86th minute as Kane smashed his effort into the roof of the net, to the relief and delight of screaming fans back home.

The 2-1 victory sets up a round-of-16 crunch showdown against Mexico – in Mexico City, at their home stadium the Azteca, scene of Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal.

It will be a seismic event unlike anything England has seen so far in this World Cup. More than a million Mexico fans took to the streets when their team beat Ecuador earlier this week with four people dying during the wild celebrations.

Fans in Manchester celebrate as England book their place in the last 16 of the World Cup

All smiles for these England fans as Harry Kane scored twice to see England beat DR Congo 2-1

Advertisement

England fans celebrate Harry Kane’s second goal during a screening of the between England and DR Congo on Brighton Beach

England took the lead in the 86th minute as Kane smashed his effort into the roof of the net, to the relief and delight of screaming fans back home. Pictured: Fans in London celebrate England’s 2-1 win

The 2-1 win sets up a last-16 tie on Sunday against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, one of world football’s most famous venues. Pictured: Fans in London celebrate England’s 2-1 win

England fans celebrate at the 4TheFans Fan Park in Brighton as England take on DR Congo in the World Cup 

Advertisement

England supporters in Brighton react as they watch the England take on the DR Congo

Fans go from agony to ecstasy as Harry Kane scores twice for England

Fans in Brighton were seen celebrating as Thomas Tuchel’s men went 2-1 up in the game

England fans celebrate at BOXPARK Wembley in London as Harry Kane’s double secured a 2-1 win

Advertisement

Supporters stand on tables with beers in hand as the Three Lions beat DR Congo

England fans celebrate at BOXPARK Wembley in London as Harry Kane’s double secured a 2-1 win

Celebrations at BOXPARK Wembley in London as Harry Kane’s double secured a 2-1 win

England fans in Atlanta enjoy the atmosphere during the World Cup round of 32 match between England and DR Congo

Advertisement

Fans leaving the Atlanta Stadium following England’s victory against DR Congo

On the final whistle in Atlanta, nerve-shredded fans went wild with excitement, belting out Wonderwall and ‘Football’s Coming Home’ in the vast air-conditioned stadium.

Retired Civil servant David Delves, 60, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, said: ‘Kane is able! What a second goal that was. Unstoppable.’ 

Company director Michael Nobes, 64, from Portsmouth, added: ‘Crikey, they do put you through a lot of stress, I didn’t think my heart would hold out. Harry Kane, wow, just amazing – onto Mexico now.’

Supporter Mark Perkins, 45, from Liverpool, said: ‘Harry came up with the goods again, he is Mr Dependable, Mexico in Mexico City will be a very different game, a lot harder.’

Glen Harris, 66, from Lincoln, said: ‘We are here now – and going all the way to the final. I have booked six weeks and want to see us win the World Cup.’

Dominic Webb, 34, a software designer of Swindon, Wiltshire, said: ‘I’ll be dancing on the ceiling tonight, just buzzing. 

‘My whole trip – and it’s cost absolutely thousands – has been, for me, about getting to Mexico. Playing against Mexico in Mexico is going to be a complete dream.’

John Clift, 60, who is originally from Wigan but now lives in Australia, said: ‘I’m absolutely exhausted. That was 80 minutes of torture for me.

‘I thought we were slow, lethargic a lot of the time.

‘We had chances and missed them and you just thought it was going to be one of those days.

‘Thankfully we did it in the end but we made hard work of that.’

Another fan outside the stadium in Atlanta said he believed were going all the way in the tournament.

Spencer Dalby, 21, from Huddersfield, SAI: ‘What annoys me about is it takes so much time to tap into the belief.

‘Once we tap into the belief and the passion and the positive attitude – look at us, we’re unstoppable.

‘But you’ve seen it in the first and second game – we’re stale, we sit back.

‘Then, all of a sudden, we turn our engine on and look at us now, we’re going all the way honestly – and I’m going all the way as well.’

The victory means England fans face a wallet-busting scramble for flights and tickets to the Mexican capital for Sunday night’s game, which will kick off at 1am on Monday UK time.

Hundreds of pubs are applying for ultra-late licences to show to allow punters to pull all-nighters, with the potential for a 4am finish if the game goes to extra time and penalties.

Employers are bracing for a ‘mass sickie event’ next Monday morning as bleary-eyed workers sleep off the match.

Boxpark venues in Croydon, Wembley, Liverpool, Camden and Shoreditch are among hundreds of venues to obtain temporary licence extensions to give drinkers lots of extra time.

Tonight’s match marks the first time UK fans will benefit from a 1am nationwide late licensing extension, which will see pub doors kept open from 11pm to 1am.

The extra two-hour drinking window will see 14 million pints pulled in pubs and another 14 million drunk at home during the match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Some experts predict some staff will go further and pull a sickie on ‘Bunk Off Wednesday’ and dedicate their whole day to alcohol-fuelled pre-match partying.

The sound of celebration also swept through the grounds of Wimbledon as many of the grand slam attendees followed the moment on their phones while play continued on Centre Court. 

Murray Mound was filled with spectators whose eyes are on their mobile phones rather than the big screens showing the second round of ladies’ singles being played on Centre Court.

While those in the front rows remained focused on the tennis, further back, fans relaxed on picnic blankets with tablets, laptops and phones showing the game.

The first two-thirds of tonight’s match were desperate for England. Fans had their heads in their hands after just six minutes when 28-year-old DR Congo winger Brian Cipenga sliced the ball past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

DR Congo fans – vastly outnumbered by England supporters – went wild, filling the stadium with noise and dancing and singing in the stands.

In a nightmare first half, Jude Bellingham got a yellow card for a poor tackle and captain Harry Kane was denied a penalty after being flattened while on his way to goal.

Things started slowly for England and the central African side went into an early lead when The Leopard’s Brian Cipenga scored after seven minutes 

Head in hands: England fans watch on at Brighton beach as the Three Lions take on DR Congo

Advertisement

Fans watch a screening of the World Cup match between England and DR Congo at 4theFans fan park at Central Park Brighton Beach

The DR Congo then almost got a second goal but hit the post, while shots on target by Bellingham and Kane were both saved by the Congo goalie.

The belated win was a relief for England’s sweating army of travelling supporters. 

They had followed the team on a 5,000-mile odyssey, from their sensational first game in Dallas, beating Croatia 4-2, then the draw with Ghana in Boston and New York for the 2-0 defeat of Panama.

In Atlanta, fans enjoyed the sweltering southern city to the full, turning the Hudson Grille bar into a corner of England belting out anthems Sweet Caroline and Football’s Coming Home.

At the Skol Brewing Company, England supporters even limbered up for the game by indulging in a spot of axe throwing, costing $26 a person. 

Project manager Dan Kraus, 49, from Middlesborough, said: ‘We thought we would give it a go. It’s completely mad. Can you imagine it at home? Axe throwing in a pub? Health and Safety would have a fit.’

In a refreshing change, beers in Atlanta are the cheapest so far in the World Cup. The cost is £6.55, a relief from the last stop, New Jersey, where it was £15.47. A slice of pizza is just $3, compared with three times more at other stadiums.

At the Hudson Grille England fans Adam Rathmill, 52, from Langley near Staines, Berkshire and Phil Barker, 45, from Peterborough, were downing Bloody Marys and pints of Guinness for breakfast with dozens of other supporters.

Diamond polisher Mr Rathmill told the Daily Mail: ‘I’d love to go to the next round or even the final but short of selling a kidney I just can’t justify it, my wife would go mad.

Company director Mr Barker, said: ‘Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are on form at the moment…Mexico in Mexico City, that will be really tough and I can’t see them doing it.

‘To be fair though, if they did win that one then I think they could go all the way but it will be hard because of the quality of the teams left in it. Argentina and France look really good.’

Electrician Ian Potter, 49, Nottingham, said: ‘Even if they get through to the final, I won’t go, the cost is ridiculous. I looked this morning and they had tickets on sale for £11,000, how on earth can I justify that, it’s madness, I will watch it on the TV at home.’

Fitness equipment salesman Adam Small, 48, Nottingham, said: ‘Everyone’s given the team a bit of a hard time but they’ve done what they needed to do. I’m very tempted to go to Mexico. 

‘I’m supposed to be going to the Dominican Republic on holiday next week so I might cancel that and go to Mexico City instead, I’m in two minds.’

Financial trader David Whitehouse, 48, originally from Birmingham but now living in Chicago, was with his son Charlie, seven, and said: ‘I grew up with football and really got into it with the 1986 World Cup and I’m throwing it at Charlie and he’s really getting into it as well. 

‘I will give Mexico a miss but I’m keeping half an eye on Miami if we get through.’

Jordan Pickford 4 – Should not have been at the near post. A poor World Cup overall.

Djed Spence 4 – He struggled in a struggling team all season… and has struggled here. No surprise.

Ezri Konsa 5 – Went unwittingly close to equalising with a deflected effort. Exposed defensively.

Marc Guehi 5 = He and Konsa just did not look on the same wavelength. England’s defence looked vulnerable.

Nico O’Reilly 5 – Just did not overlap, get forward or play anywhere near his level for Man City.

Declan Rice 7 – Got so much better when he switched to right back. Yes, really. Did such a big job.

Elliot Anderson 6 – For an hour, he really struggled and then got better when Rice went to right back and got more space.

Noni Madueke 4 – Got hooked after an hour when he offered little in way of cover or end product. Poor.

Jude Bellingham 7 – Twice denied from headers and another effort produced a stunning save. Tried so hard.

Marcus Rashford 5 – Was substituted for Gordon as he did not offer enough. Again, failed from the start.

Harry Kane 7 – Stepped up when England needed him most. Captain Marvel rescued England with two goals.

The development marks an historic milestone for the group and the wider Troon community.

Leaders at the 28th Ayrshire (Troon) Scout Group have spoken of their pride at taking ownership of their hall.

The group has announced that they have successfully purchased Troon Scout Centre and surrounding grounds from South Ayrshire Council.

And the development marks an historic milestone for the group and the wider Troon community.

Group Chair Craig Smith said: “Securing ownership of the hall and grounds is a transformational moment for Scouting in Troon.

“It gives us the stability we need to plan for the future, invest in essential improvements, and continue offering a welcoming, inclusive space for the whole community.”

The achievement follows an extensive fundraising campaign launched to secure the future of the buildings, which have served generations of young people and community groups.

The campaign, supported by local residents, businesses, former Scouts, and friends of the Group, raised more than £45,000 through community donations, sponsored activities, additional support and in kind contributions to enable the purchase, with a community valuation price agreed with South Ayrshire Council.

Founded in 1909, the 28th Ayrshire (Troon) Scout Group provides adventurous activities and personal development opportunities for more than 170 young people.

Scouting has operated from the current hall in the rear of the property since 1952, when Scouts, parents, and local tradespeople came together to build the original hall.

The hall was expanded in 1968, and in 2014 the Group also took on the former Youth Centre on a full repair and maintenance basis, leased from the Council.

Over the decades, the buildings have become a vital community hub, hosting a wide range of groups and activities including fitness classes, Irish dancing, Karate, Tai Chi, art classes, Skills Development Scotland sessions, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, and Explorers.

The centre has hosted international Scout visits, birthday celebrations, first aid training, sports sessions, community events, and was the site of Troon’s first 24-hour public access defibrillator installed in 2019.

However, as leaseholders, the Group faced increasing challenges in financing ongoing maintenance and modernisation of the buildings.

Ownership is an essential requirement to secure grant funding and investment in long term improvements which will benefit many of the facility’s users, including installing accessible toilets and showers, and providing better sleeping accommodation for overnight activities.

Group Chair Craig Smith continued: ”We are deeply grateful to everyone who donated, shared our campaign, or supported us in any way, and of course to South Ayrshire Council and its estates team for their support and assistance in progressing the sale.

“With ownership now secured, the Group will begin undertaking priority works needed for repair and maintenance of the property. We will also commence the next phase of a longer term plan for future improvements (in consultation with the centre’s user groups, local residents and our young people), aiming to provide a high quality, flexible, adaptable place for Scouting, Guiding, and a wide range of community activities to serve Troon for decades to come.”

The Group continues to welcome support as it moves into this next capital improvement stage.

Anyone wishing to contribute or learn more can visit the campaign page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/28thAyrshireScoutCentreCampaign

Macauley Hughes, 29, was seen on footage headbutting a cage inside a police van before screaming at officers.

A drug dealer found in possession of cannabis and 2,000 tablets of bromazolam was seen on footage headbutting a cage inside a police van before threatening to murder officers. He later told police the pills he was found in possession of were “presents”.

Macauley Hughes, 29, was stopped by plain clothes officers from British Transport Police at Cardiff Central railway station on January 3, 2024. He was unsteady on his feet and there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from his jacket.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, June 18, heard Hughes was detained and searched by police. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.

He immediately became abusive and was handcuffed as officers carried out the search.

The defendant was found in possession of cannabis and 2,000 tablets of bromazolam.

Hughes was arrested and placed in the back of a police van but he violently headbutted the cage inside the van.

When an officer told him to stop, the defendant responded: “I swear on my daughter’s grave, I will murder you mate”, before continuing to headbutt the cage.

He later told police the pills were “presents” and when his home was searched he was found in possession of four bottles of illegal THC vape juice in his fridge.

Hughes, of Wellingtonia Close, Merthyr Tydfil, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs.

The defendant was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment.

Following the hearing, British Transport Police detective constable Liam Perry said: “Drugs are a blight on society, yet for Hughes this was business as usual. He used the railway to travel from town to town selling drugs.

“The fact that he was outraged that officers challenged him demonstrates the normalcy with which he regarded his criminal enterprise. I hope he takes his time behind bars to rethink his illegal activities.

“If you’re planning to use the railway to transport and supply drugs, we will catch up with you, and you will be put before the courts.”

Sergeant Shaun Thomas, of South Wales Police, said: “These illegal drugs have devastating consequences on the people further down the chain who end up using them, not to mention their family, friends and wider communities.”

“We will continue to investigate any information you have which could relate to the sale or use of these drugs.”

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.

We’re one step closer on the road to victory

It’s happened: England have made it into the final 16 of this year’s World Cup.

Following their 2-1 victory this evening against DR Congo at the Atlanta Stadium as part of the knockout stages, Thomas Tuchel’s squad will now make their way over to Mexico City.

Harry Kane and the team will face off against the home country Mexico after their victory against Ecuador on Wednesday morning (July 1) which saw Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez both score first-half goals.

Click here for the latest on Manchester’s food & drink scene, gigs and more in our CityLife newsletter

But it’s going to be a particularly late one for fans with a 1am kick-off time, set to end at around 3am if there are no penalties or extra time.

Whilst many pubs and venues across the country were granted extra time to allow fans to watch the World Cup this year, the rules currently stipulate that pubs can only stay open until 1am for England matches in the knockout stages that kick off between 5pm and 9pm, and until 2am for kick-offs between 9pm and 10pm.

Because of this, it is currently only venues with the relevant late-night licences already in place that are likely to be able to screen the next England match on Monday, July 6.

We’ve rounded up the list of venues which have confirmed with the Manchester Evening News that they will be screening the next big game so far. We’ll be updating this as more venues reveal their plans for the Monday game.

We Are Football Festival at Freight Island

Hailed as one of Europe’s biggest World Cup fan zones, the We Are Football Festival will be screening the early Monday match.

Powered by 4TheFans, the event at Freight Island has proved to be incredibly popular with fans so far for its huge anti-glare screens, top-tier sound system, live entertainment, and food and drink stalls.

Doors will open at 10pm. Tickets start from £4.50 for general admission, with a range of premium, VIP and family options also available to choose from. Tickets can be booked here.

Freight Island, 11 Baring Street, Manchester, M1 2PZ.

Diecast World Cup Nights

Diecast is also set to screen the England v Mexico game with their World Cup Nights takeover.

Taking place at the Ducie Street venue, the event will be filled with massive screens and a ‘mega music takeover’ with DJs, hosts, quizzes, competitions and plenty of special guests.

Doors will be open from 11pm ahead of kick-off at 1am.Tickets are priced from £5.90 (with booking fee included), with a range of standing, student and accessibility tickets available, as well as VIP tables. Tickets here.

Diecast, 51 Ducie St, Manchester M1 2JQ.

BOX Deansgate

Sports bar BOX, which boasts more than 20 TV screens, will also be screening the big game.

As well as screening all the action as it happens, there will also be the opportunity to divulge in match-day food and drink, and enjoy the ‘electric atmosphere’ of the venue. It’s free to book a table, which you can do so right here.

BOX is on 125 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BY.

Vanilla Coca-Cola is back in stock and is now available exclusively at Iceland stores and online, after quietly disappearing from most retailers across the country.

The comeback was first spotted by food deals page Newfoodsuk, which shared a photo of the drink on social media with the caption: “Vanilla Coca-Cola is back, now available exclusively at Iceland Foods.”

Coca-Cola Vanilla spotted on UK shelves 8 years after being discontinued

Fans quickly shared their excitement in the post, with one calling it the “best drink ever”.

Another said: “It’s back!! Finally.”

It was first introduced in the UK in 2005 and was relaunched again later in 2013.

Originally announced as a limited edition in the UK, it became permanent for several years; however, it was again discontinued in the UK in the summer of 2018.

Vanilla Coca-Cola gradually faded from supermarket shelves, though it has occasionally returned for limited runs.

Now, shoppers can once again get their hands on the flavoured cola, but only at Iceland.

The retailer is offering an eight-pack of 330ml cans for £5 and a 24-pack for £12.50, with both listed as “New” items on Iceland’s website.

Vanilla Coke is back in the UK and available at Iceland (Image: Jam Press/Iceland)

The return comes as flavoured cola varieties remain popular with shoppers, and Coca-Cola continues to rotate and introduce limited-edition flavours in the UK.

Coca-Cola fans have seen many popular flavours discontinued in recent years.

In 2024, the soft drink giant revealed Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla and Diet Coke with Splenda had both been discontinued.

The decision came as a result of changing “consumer taste preferences”, it said at the time.

Vanilla Zero also began to disappear from shelves the following year.

New Coca-Cola flavour has already launched this year

Earlier thsi year, Coca-Cola added Cherry Float and Cherry Float Zero to its list of Coke flavours available in the UK.

The new Cherry Float, alongside Cherry Float Zero Sugar, expands Coca-Cola’s popular cherry range.

The drinks brand says the drink is inspired by the nostalgic taste of classic soda floats, combining cherry notes with smooth vanilla flavour.

Recommended reading:

Ellie D’Silva, Senior Marketing Manager at Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: “Cherry flavours continue to be a fan favourite, and the introduction of Cherry Float across both original and zero sugar variants gives consumers even more choice within the Coca-Cola Cherry range.

“Inspired by the nostalgic taste of classic soda floats, the new flavour reflects our continued focus on innovation while offering fans new ways to enjoy the iconic Coca-Cola taste.”

From February, Coca-Cola Cherry Float and Coca-Cola Cherry Float Zero Sugar are available permanently across major retailers in Britain, including 300ml cans, 500ml bottles, 2L bottles and multipacks.

What is your favourite fizzy drink? Let us know in the comments.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

Phillip Mayhew was showing a new colleague how to use the vehicle when its safety pins jammed, and he took a sledgehammer to them in a bid to fix the problem.

But the 35-year-old was standing on the lower deck of the transporter at the time, and the top deck fell and crushed him, an inquest at Northallerton Coroner’s Court heard on Wednesday (July 1). It concluded his death on March 29, 2024, while working at J D Macadam recovery on Boroughbridge Road in Ripon, was a misadventure.

His mum Christine Atkins told the inquest his death “has left a void in our hearts”.

Macadam on Boroughbridge Road, Ripon (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

She said her son had his struggles with PTSD after serving in the RAF, including a tour in Afghanistan, but added “he lit up every room he walked in”.

“He wasn’t just my son, he was my whole world,” she said in her character portrait which told of his love of cars and scuba diving.

“His death was preventable. He had a lovely bond with his sister Samantha; they were best friends, and they were inseparable.

“He will live on in our hearts”.

Northallerton Coroner’s Court (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The inquest heard Mr Mayhew, who was a vehicle recovery operative, tried to raise the top deck of the vehicle but its safety pins on the side became jammed and didn’t move correctly.

He eventually took a sledgehammer to the pins to try and release them while he was standing on the lower deck of the transporter, with the top deck above him. After the final hit of the sledgehammer, the top deck fell and crushed Mr Mayhew, who had only worked at J D Macadam for two months before his death.

His colleagues “desperately” tried to free him using a crane and a forklift and said they were in “complete shock” following the incident.

His former colleagues James Barker, Mark Pennington, and Daniel McEwan all described the “awful” moment they heard the loud bang that saw the top deck of the transporter fall on Mr Mayhew.

Macadam on Boroughbridge Road, Ripon (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Mr Barker told the inquest of the “panic” of everyone on site after the incident just after 8am.

He added how he was tasked with getting a forklift truck to free Mr Mayhew from the wreckage and attempted to raise the top deck of the transporter from his trapped colleague.

Meanwhile, Mr McEwan described the “horror” of seeing the incident unfold in front of him.

Despite the best efforts of his colleagues, who performed CPR for ten minutes, and emergency services, the 35-year-old died at the scene.

A postmortem examination into Mr Mayhew’s death concluded that he died from multiple injuries, including a skull fracture.

The inquest heard from Phillip’s bosses who reiterated no one was to stand under the top deck of the transporter while operating it, with Carl Jones, an area senior manager for North Yorkshire at Macadam, saying this was his “mantra”.

Phillip Mayhew, 35, was killed on March 29, 2024, at J D Macadam recovery on Boroughbridge Road in Ripon (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

They said Mr Mayhew had undergone 35 hours of additional training, alongside the usual induction, and was shown how to use the vehicle, a DAF LF230.

Aaron Nelson, compliance manager at Macadam, added that training was given to employees “as a matter of course”.

He added that drivers completed daily checks and couldn’t take the vehicles out to a job otherwise.

However, he acknowledged that following the tragic incident in March 2024, training had been stepped up to include more guidance on where to stand while operating the vehicles.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Louise Redgrove, noted there were no clear vehicle defects on the transporter at the time, but said Phillip’s tragic case was most likely down to “human factors”.

However, she said that the HSE had to ensure that Macadam stepped up its training and documented it more thoroughly after noting that there was little “audit trail” on the training before the fatal incident.

A jury concluded: “Phillip Colin Mayhew was walking through operations on a vehicle transporter with his colleagues when the locking pin wheel became jammed. He climbed onto the top deck and then climbed under the bottom deck, hitting the pin lock mechanism with a sledgehammer, causing it to fall and crush him, causing fatal injuries.”

The story of the US is, in many ways, remarkable. It achieved independence against the odds, its constitution has lasted more than two centuries and its democracy has weathered war, economic depression, social upheaval and political change. But reflection on American history rarely settles into simple celebration.

From the beginning, the US was an experiment rather than an inheritance. It was built on the idea that free people could govern themselves through constitutional institutions. And because of that, Americans have repeatedly wondered whether the experiment was in danger of failing.

In some cases, fears proved exaggerated. In others, they were justified. But taken together, these moments reveal that fear of constitutional failure has been a recurring theme throughout US history. As the US approaches its 250th anniversary, several events stand out as moments of constitutional peril.

1. Tensions with France

The first major test of the constitution arrived soon after its signing in 1787. Eleven years later, in 1798, the formal alliance between the US and France was replaced with intense mutual hostility and paranoia as tensions grew over diplomatic insults and French attacks on American shipping. Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts as a response to external threats and domestic instability.

But critics saw something different: a government using fear to suppress dissent. The Sedition Act made certain criticisms of federal officials a crime, with newspapers and political opponents becoming targets of prosecution. For a nation that had recently fought a revolution in the name of liberty, this episode exposed an uncomfortable reality that constitutional rights could not be assumed.

The significance of the Alien and Sedition Acts lies not in their three-year duration but in the questions they raised. How much liberty are citizens willing to surrender when they believe the nation is under threat? And how much dissent can a democracy tolerate? Those questions have returned throughout American history.

2. The civil war

No crisis would test the republic more severely than the civil war in 1861. The decision of southern states to secede from the US shattered the assumption that political disagreements would remain within constitutional boundaries. This turned the long-running conflicts over slavery, citizenship, federal authority and the meaning of the union itself into open war.

Had the Confederacy succeeded, the US would probably have ceased to exist in the form envisioned by its founders. Yet even this example is more complicated than a simple narrative of survival. The union was preserved, slavery abolished and new constitutional amendments transformed legal definitions of freedom and citizenship. But these promises were only partially fulfilled.

The US government abandoned its efforts to protect the rights of newly freed Black Americans after the civil war, allowing the southern states to enforce legalised racial segregation and systemic disenfranchisement for nearly a century. This reminds us that constitutional survival and constitutional justice are not always the same thing.

3. McCarthyism

The 20th century brought new challenges. During the cold war, fears of communist influence and Soviet espionage spread throughout American society. Some fears were grounded in reality, but the atmosphere created by the “second red scare” (1947-59) extended far beyond legitimate security concerns.

Commonly associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy, this period is remembered not because Americans feared communism but because fear itself became politically powerful. Loyalty investigations, blacklists and public accusations affected thousands. People found their careers damaged or destroyed based on suspicion, association or allegations.

McCarthyism remains historically significant because its underlying dynamic is so familiar. When faced with threats, democratic societies often struggle to uphold civil liberties. This episode raises a broader question that remains relevant today: can a free society preserve its freedoms when citizens believe those freedoms are being exploited by enemies?

4. Watergate scandal

The Watergate scandal of 1972 to 1974 presented a different kind of constitutional challenge. What began as a burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington quickly evolved into broader investigations. These investigations exposed direct efforts by President Richard Nixon to obstruct justice, misuse government agencies and conceal wrongdoing within the executive branch.

At its heart was a central question: was the president subject to the law? Democracies depend on elections but also limits to power, even when that power is exercised by democratically elected leaders.

What makes Watergate noteworthy half a century later is not just the misconduct that was uncovered, but the response it provoked. Journalists investigated, courts asserted their authority, Congress conducted oversight and ultimately Nixon resigned. While Watergate shook public confidence, it demonstrated that constitutional checks and balances could function when tested.

5. The 2020 election

The most recent chapter in America’s story remains close enough to the present that its full historical significance is still debated. The aftermath of the 2020 election and events on January 6 2021, when Trump supporters staged a violent attack on the US Capitol building in Washington, exposed divisions over elections, legitimacy and democratic norms.

The attack disrupted a process that Americans had taken for granted: the formal certification of a presidential election and the peaceful transfer of power. What made this episode so important was the challenge it posed to confidence in electoral processes themselves. Democracies depend upon winners and losers accepting constitutional outcomes, even when they are disappointed by them.

The constitutional system ultimately carried out its responsibilities. Courts heard challenges, state officials certified results, Congress completed the certification process and the transfer of power took place. Yet this episode left enduring questions about public trust, political polarisation and American democratic health.

As Americans prepare to mark 250 years of independence, these different episodes suggest that constitutional government has never been self-sustaining. From fears of republican collapse to concerns about civil war, political repression, executive overreach and contested elections, each generation has confronted its own version of constitutional peril.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the American experience is not the crises themselves, but the debates over how to preserve the republic have endured alongside them. America’s constitutional democracy is not a finished achievement. It is a continuing project, renewed and tested by every generation.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former CIA Director John Brennan sued the Trump administration on Wednesday, demanding a court order that would require officials to preserve records from investigations that he says are targeting him.

Brennan said in the lawsuit that the records would be essential for him to mount a defense on vindictive prosecution grounds in the event of a future indictment brought by the Republican administration.

“To fully consider those motions, the reviewing judge would need to scrutinize the motivations of the Justice Department officials who directed, oversaw, or undertook those actions to determine whether they violated Director Brennan’s rights, and specifically whether they were motivated by a desire to vindictively prosecute him as an act of retribution,” Brennan’s lawyers wrote in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington.

The lawsuit names as defendants President Donald Trump and other top law enforcement officials from his administration, including acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel and the prosecutors in Florida who have been overseeing investigations related to Brennan and other former government officials.