Ella-Brooke Morgan

During the heyday of “free love” and flower crowns, larger-than-life folk and soft rock icons like James Taylor, Carole King and Jackson Browne were cultivating the soundtrack of a generation – songs that would live on in the hearts of grandparents and music snobs alike. But while these faces adorned tour posters and album covers everywhere, the studio session musicians behind their legendary records remained largely out of the spotlight.

On March 26, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist David Carson showed a crowd of students, faculty, and Richmond locals an evocative image: a teary-eyed child clutching a small puppy in a lifeboat. An accompanying caption, posted on X, called for people to sympathize with Hurricane Helene victims, racking up viral numbers and nationwide attention. There’s a twist, though: the photo is AI-generated.

Bryce Towel, 29, sees the United States as private property. “It’s American soil, and unless you’re invited, like if someone invites you to a party, then you should be removed,” she said as she sat on a couch at the Regency shopping mall on a dreary Wednesday in early March. She was among more than 40 people interviewed in Henrico County about their views on immigration and Washington’s handling of the southern border.