A Democratic senator’s internship job posting was deemed "political malpractice" by an essay in The Atlantic on Friday that argued diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) language can fuel the White identity politics that Democrats oppose.The commentary by Conor Friedersdorf, headlined "The DEI Language That’s Doing More Harm Than Good," pointed to a social media post from Sen.Ed Markey, D-Mass., in which he sought interns for his Boston office.In the post, Markey wrote, "BIPOC, LGBTQ+, working class, veterans, and other underrepresented candidates with Massachusetts ties are encouraged to apply."TRUMP ADMIN'S PUSH TO SCRAP DEI IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKES LANDMARK STEP WITH NEW HIRING RULESen.
Ed Markey, D-Mass., at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 4, 2026. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)The senator’s call for applications sparked criticism online, with critics suggesting Markey was openly discriminating against White men while attempting to appear inclusive.The Atlantic essay noted that Manhattan Institute senior fellow Christopher Rufo alleged Markey’s internship posting was an open violation of civil rights law and called on the Justice Department to pursue federal charges.Former Trump Justice Department appointee Theo Wold also weighed in, writing that the goal of the Democratic Party is to make sure White men "have no opportunities to find gainful employment."Friedersdorf called the senator’s wording "political malpractice," arguing that language that fuels White identity politics is harmful to Americans of all races, even when the intent is good.He added that Democrats should instead adopt rhetoric that clearly commits to equal opportunity."White identitarians would exist even in a world without bias of any sort in recruitment or hiring –– but using language that fuels White identity politics, as Markey’s language did, is political malpractice that’s bad for Americans of all races, no matter how well intentioned i...