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July 3, 2026
This July 4th could be hottest ever in parts of U.S., forecast expected to break records
(CBS News) This July Fourth could be the hottest on record for millions of Americans as a massive heat wave traps more than half of the United States under a heat dome through the holiday weekend. Dangerously high temperatures continued to ramp up Thursday from the Midwest to the East Coast, forecasters said. Between daily high temperatures and warm overnight lows — which won't be low enough to offer much relief — more than 300 records are expected to be set by Saturday.
Go to discussionTop Doctor Warns Trump Is Endangering Lives With July 4 Rally
(Daily Beast) A top doctor has warned that President Donald Trump’s much-hyped July 4 rally is potentially fatal. Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist and CNN medical analyst, urged the cancellation of Trump’s Washington, D.C. rally for America’s 250th birthday, citing sweltering temperatures that could put attendees at risk. “The same way the outdoor inauguration was canceled last year because of the cold, the rally on the Mall this July 4 should be canceled because of the intense heat (> 100 degrees),” he wrote in an X post on Thursday.
Go to discussionRanking Member Huffman Releases Report on How Trump Hijacked America's 250th Birthday to Enrich Himself, Sell Access
(Jared Huffman) House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) released a new 55-page report following months of investigative work by Committee Democrats exposing how Donald Trump hijacked what was supposed to be a unifying, non-political celebration of our country's 250th birthday and made it all about him – his vanity projects, his political and religious agenda, his business ventures, and his cronies who gorged on public funds under cover of a shadow corporation shielded from public scrutiny.
Go to discussionTrump's Freedom 250 stage falls apart while dancers rehearse on it
(The Independent) A portion of the main stage built for President Donald Trump’s upcoming July 4th Freedom 250 celebration collapsed during a rehearsal session, nearly striking a performer. Footage circulating on social media shows a group of dancers rehearsing their routine to music, then abruptly stop as a piece of the overhead structure breaks off from the top and falls onto the stage below. As reported by @AaronParnas on X, the dancers managed to move out of the path of the falling debris, and no injuries were reported during the incident.
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'A Grave Miscalculation': Jack Smith Insists There Is 'No Way' He Could Be Silenced by Trump
(Mediaite) Former Special Counsel Jack Smith told MS NOW’s Nicolle Wallace on Thursday there is “no way” he will be intimidated by President Donald Trump’s apparent attempts to silence him. Smith added it would be a “grave miscalculation” to believe “going after me” will inhibit him from speaking up. Wallace asked Smith about Trump’s ability to be elected for a second time, even though “the facts showed he’d committed multiple felonies.”
Go to discussionDOJ declines to turn over additional Epstein files, says redactions were appropriate
(ABC News) The Department of Justice on Thursday declined to turn over additional information from the Epstein files as ordered by a judge, arguing the materials include sensitive victim information or were appropriately redacted as required by law. Hours ahead of the deadline to turn over the materials or explain why they were properly withheld, Associate U.S. Attorney General Stanley Woodward asked the judge to delay the deadline by 60 days or disregard it entirely by accepting the DOJ's reasons for withholding the materials.
Go to discussionAppeals court rules ICE cannot detain migrants beyond 90 days without bond hearing
(The Independent) A federal appeals court has delivered a significant blow to the Trump administration's immigration policies, ruling that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cannot detain individuals for more than 90 days without providing them an opportunity for release on bond. This decision, issued by a divided 2-1 panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, could impact thousands of people held in states like Texas and Louisiana, which fall under its jurisdiction and have been central to President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Go to discussionBuckle up! We just entered the next phase of Trumpflation
(Motley Fool) It's shaping up to be another sensational year for equities. In early June, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI), S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), and Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) romped to record highs on the heels of artificial intelligence (AI) euphoria. But this rally may be more fragile than Wall Street's major indexes suggest. Inflation is the proverbial torpedo that can sink Wall Street's ship, and we appear to have entered the next phase of Trumpflation.
Go to discussionTrump designated disaster aid to 9 Republican-leaning states while plugging GOP candidates
(ABC News) President Donald Trump announced he approved more than $846 million in disaster relief funds for Republican-leaning states in a series of posts on his social media platform, combining the announcements with praise for candidates he endorsed in those states' upcoming elections. The president has repeatedly approved a higher percentage of aid requests for Republican-leaning states than for Democratic-leaning ones in his second term, according to the nonpartisan think tank Urban Institute.
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