⚡ Today in History

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, separating the 13 colonies from Great Britain. In 1826, exactly 50 years later, former presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died within hours of each other. Today, the United States turns 250 years old under a record-breaking heat dome, with President Trump set to deliver a lengthy address on the National Mall.

Top News

Heat dome shatters records as America turns 250 160M UNDER ALERTS

A stagnant heat dome parked over the eastern two-thirds of the United States pushed temperatures into the triple digits Thursday. More than 160 million Americans are now under heat alerts heading into Saturday's Independence Day celebrations. New York City tied its July 4 record high of 100 degrees, a mark last set in 1966, and forecasters expect more than 300 daily temperature records to fall by Saturday.

Iran opens six-day funeral for slain leader Khamenei 15-20M EXPECTED

Four months after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike on February 28, Iran began funeral processions in Tehran on Friday ahead of his burial on July 9. Officials expect between 15 million and 20 million mourners across ceremonies in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, and the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala. Iranian authorities closed Tehran's airspace and warned local businesses to shut down during the mourning period.

Economy adds just 57,000 jobs in June

Hiring cooled sharply last month as U.S. employers added 57,000 jobs, less than half the 115,000 economists had forecast, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2% from 4.3%, largely because 720,000 people left the labor force rather than found work. Government revisions also cut April and May job gains by a combined 74,000.

Dow closes at a record high before the holiday

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 595 points Thursday to a record close of 52,900, lifted by gains of nearly 5% each in Apple and Walt Disney. The S&P 500 finished flat while the Nasdaq fell 0.8% as chipmakers extended a two-day slide. Wall Street closed Friday for Independence Day and reopens Monday.

American pride hits a 25-year low as nation turns 250

A Gallup poll released this week found only 58% of U.S. adults say they are very or extremely proud to be American, the lowest share in 25 years of polling. A separate Pew Research Center survey found nearly 70% of Americans are dissatisfied with the country's direction. That mood has shaped scaled-back 250th anniversary celebrations compared with the widely attended 1976 bicentennial.

72 million Americans hit the road for the holiday weekend

AAA projects that 72 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this Fourth of July weekend, one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Airlines are bracing for full flights and possible storm delays along the East Coast. Severe weather moving from the Plains toward the Northeast is expected to shift toward the I-95 corridor over the weekend.

World

Iran warns US and Israel against striking funeral crowds AIRSPACE CLOSED

As millions gather for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral, Iran's military warned it would respond to any attack during the ceremonies and told ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz routes it has not approved. Iran's parliament speaker urged mass turnout, telling state media the funeral should reflect the nation's call for vengeance. The warning comes as U.S. and Iranian negotiators continue indirect talks in Doha, Qatar, over a permanent peace deal.

Bomb kills 5 in Damascus cafe

An improvised explosive device detonated inside a popular cafe in Damascus, the capital of Syria, on Thursday, killing five people as security forces hunted for those responsible. The blast adds to instability as Syria's government works to consolidate control following the collapse of the Assad regime. No group had claimed responsibility as of Friday.

Russian missiles kill several in overnight Kyiv attack

Russia launched a large-scale barrage of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, overnight Wednesday into Thursday. The attack killed several people and forced residents into subway stations for shelter. Emergency crews spent Thursday digging through the rubble of collapsed apartment buildings to search for survivors.

Venezuela quake damage tops 60,000 buildings

A NASA satellite assessment found nearly 60,000 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in late June. Rescue teams pulled a small dog from the rubble nearly a week after the twin quakes hit. The damage has strained a country already facing years of economic crisis.

Hormuz shipping tops 10 million barrels a day

Daily oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz climbed above 10 million barrels this week for the first time since the U.S.-Israel-Iran war began in February. The United Arab Emirates restored exports to more than 3.9 million barrels a day, and at least 35 commercial vessels transited the strait in the 24 hours before Wednesday. Before the war, roughly 110 vessels passed through the strait each day.

Politics

Trump vows marathon July 4 speech in 107-degree heat 107°F FORECAST

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will deliver a lengthy address on the National Mall Saturday despite forecasts of 107-degree heat, calling it a chance to show he can, in his words, do anything. Trump is scheduled to speak at 9:45 p.m. ahead of what organizers are billing as the largest fireworks show in history. The address is part of the government's yearlong Salute to America 250 celebration.

Empire State Building climbers face up to 7 years

Two people who climbed to the top of the Empire State Building in New York City on Wednesday with a large banner now face charges of reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, burglary, and base jumping. New York police are investigating whether the pair scouted the building on earlier visits. The climbers pleaded not guilty at a Thursday court appearance and could face up to seven years in prison.

Olympic canoeist charged in Reflecting Pool vandalism

U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn was among several people arrested and cited after President Trump, without evidence, blamed vandals for damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. The arrests came days before Saturday's Independence Day events on the National Mall, which sit near the damaged pool. Full charges against Hearn and the others have not been made public.

Supreme Court set to weigh birthright citizenship fight

Four federal appeals courts have ruled against the Trump administration's mandatory detention policy tied to its birthright citizenship push, while two have sided with the administration, setting up a likely Supreme Court showdown. The split rulings came as the justices separately weighed the administration's broader effort to end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to noncitizen parents. A final decision is not expected before the fall.

Judges strike down Trump's student loan overhaul

Federal judges this week struck down the Trump administration's overhaul of a student loan forgiveness program, ruling the changes exceeded the administration's authority. The decision affects borrowers who had been counting on the program's original terms to have their debt canceled. The Department of Education has not said whether it will appeal.

Markets

Dow closes at record 52,900 before the holiday +595 PTS

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 595 points Thursday to a record close of 52,900, led by gains of nearly 5% each in Apple and Walt Disney. The S&P 500 finished flat while the Nasdaq fell 0.8% as chipmakers extended a two-day slide. Wall Street closed Friday for Independence Day and reopens Monday at 9:30 a.m. Eastern.

Oil falls to a 4-month low as Hormuz traffic recovers

Brent crude fell to $70.57 a barrel Thursday, its lowest level since late February, as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continued recovering from wartime disruptions. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have both ramped up exports to Asia, adding to a growing supply surplus. U.S. crude stockpiles fell to their lowest level since March 2025 after twelve straight weeks of drawdowns.

Chipmakers slide on AI valuation worries

Micron fell 7% and Applied Materials dropped more than 7% Thursday as investors questioned whether spending on artificial intelligence has pushed chip valuations too high. The sell-off came alongside reports that OpenAI was in talks to sell a 5% stake to the U.S. government. Meta also fell nearly 5% after saying it may sell excess computing capacity, a signal its recent spending had outpaced demand.

Gold climbs as investors seek safety before the holiday

Gold rose more than 1% to $4,132 an ounce Thursday as investors sought safety heading into the long holiday weekend. Bitcoin also gained, trading near $61,700. Markets remain closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with trading set to resume Monday.

Entertainment

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce marry at Madison Square Garden 1,000 GUESTS

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce held their wedding ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday evening, with roughly 1,000 guests attending a reception that ran into the early morning hours. The couple, engaged since August 2025, donated $26 million this week to 20 local and national charities ahead of the celebration. Guests including Selena Gomez, Bradley Cooper, and Patrick Mahomes were spotted arriving in New York ahead of the event.

World Cup Round of 32 plays on through the heat dome

The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues its Round of 32 on July 4, with Canada facing Morocco in Houston and Paraguay facing France in Philadelphia, both under the active heat dome gripping the eastern half of the country. The tournament, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has already produced the most goals in World Cup history. An NPR analysis found the Philadelphia match is especially likely to fall on a day with dangerous heat conditions.

Prince William surprises Kelce brothers' podcast

Prince William appeared as a surprise guest on New Heights, the podcast hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce, in an episode that dropped Friday. William and his two oldest children met Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce backstage during Swift's Eras Tour stop at London's Wembley Stadium in 2023. The episode arrived in the middle of the couple's wedding weekend in New York.

DC fireworks show aims for a world record

Saturday's fireworks display on the National Mall will start later and last longer than any previous Independence Day show in Washington, according to event organizers, as part of a bid to set a Guinness World Record. The show follows a full day of programming, including military flyovers and a keynote address from President Trump. Organizers have also barred coolers from the mall for the first time in recent memory.

Mount Vernon fireworks tickets sell out early

Advance tickets to visit George Washington's Mount Vernon estate on July 4 are breaking typical sales records, according to the historic site's leadership, after July 3 and July 4 fireworks tickets sold out in May. The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia has also reported a 17% jump in visitors this year tied to the 250th anniversary. The surge in interest contrasts with polling that shows national pride at a 25-year low.