Headed into the long holiday weekend, on a Friday in which we say goodbye to two national legends, I think a double-barreled tribute is in order.

First, a side of John McCain that we didn’t always see:

And finally, Queen Aretha Franklin, who saw and helped create a lot of change in her time, and who knew better than most that we’re still a long way from where we need to be:

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Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard gets a hug from Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, during an election-night party in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.  (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC