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Trump hijacked US's 250 anniversary to serve 'political ideology and pet projects', congressional report says

(The Guardian) Donald Trump staged a hostile takeover of the US’s 250th anniversary celebration to enrich political allies, harvest voter data and promote Christian nationalist ideology, according to a congressional investigation released on Thursday. The interim report, “From Vanity to Insanity: How the White House Cheated the American People Out of Their 250th Birthday”, outlines a web of alleged corruption, wire fraud and pay-to-play schemes orchestrated through a shadow corporation embedded within the National Park Foundation (NPF).

riversedge

U.S. Air Force Officer Arrested on Capitol Steps for Call to Impeach Trump: 'The Bill Must Come Due'

(Mediaite) Air Force Major Jason Watson was arrested on the Capitol Steps after delivering a speech calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Watson listed several perceived crimes committed by the president and vice president, including unconstitutional military actions and granting sweeping authority to unelected individuals. Watson was joined by various individuals and organizations in his call for impeachment, with Free Speech for People praising his courage and commitment to upholding the Constitution.

BumRushDaShow

U.S. economy added 57,000 jobs in June, less than expected; unemployment rate at 4.2%

(CNBC) The U.S. economy saw job creation cool sharply heading into the summer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday. Nonfarm payrolls for June increased by a seasonally adjusted 57,000 for the month, slower than the downwardly revised 129,000 added in May and worse than the 115,000 Dow Jones consensus forecast.

Dulcinea

Soaring revenue at Mar-a-Lago shows how Trump's business interests and politics intersect

(CNN) As President Donald Trump’s wealth has soared since retaking office, a new financial disclosure shows his two premier Florida resorts have also delivered record-breaking surges in revenue – a potent illustration of how Trump’s personal business and presidential politics overlap. Trump has visited the properties, Mar-a-Lago and Trump National Doral, more than two dozen times since the beginning of last year, hosting million-dollar-per-plate fundraising dinners, feting foreign dignitaries and welcoming GOP galas as industry leaders and political groups have scrambled to book their own events there as well.

KS Toronado

Thursday's Condensed News Cartoons & Memes

RandySF

Trump vows to give long July 4 address even if it is 107 degrees

(The Hill) President Trump on Wednesday vowed that he will deliver a long speech on the National Mall for the U.S.’s 250th birthday, even as forecasters anticipate temperatures climbing to 107 degrees. “By the way, on July 4th, it’s going to be approximately 107 degrees out, and I’m going to go, and I’m going to make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything,” Trump said during his appearance at the opening ceremony for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, N.D.

applegrove

Jon Ossoff Opens Big Lead in Georgia

(Political Wire) A new Fox News poll finds Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) leading challenger Mike Collins (R) in his re-election campaign, 56% to 43%.

mahatmakanejeeves

OpenAI proposes 5% stake to Trump administration to ease Washington pressure: report

(CNBC) OpenAI has proposed handing the U.S. government a 5% stake in the company, the Financial Times reported Thursday, as the artificial intelligence startup seeks to defuse mounting political pressure in Washington. ... A 5% holding would be worth roughly $42.6 billion, after the AI fab closed a record-breaking funding round in March at a post-money valuation of $852 billion.

babylonsister

Trump plan will destroy DC's 'oldest grove of cherry trees' for golf practice: report

(Raw Story) A new Washington Post report says President Donald Trump's golf course redevelopment plan would destroy "Washington's oldest grove of cherry trees," the sole survivors of Japan's original 1910 gift to America. Photos from Trump's Sunday tour of East Potomac Golf Links showed plans far larger than the government had publicly admitted, the Post said. The trees — planted in 1910 and more than twice the species' expected maximum age — sit on an area that the plans would raze for a practice facility.

douglas9

Chicago FBI chief leaving unexpectedly, raising eyebrows amid feds' ongoing credibility crisis

(Chicago Sun-Times) Chicago FBI boss Douglas S. DePodesta will leave his job after the Fourth of July holiday, an unexpected move causing further tumult in the city’s federal law enforcement community, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. His last day on the job will be Monday, according to a law enforcement source. The FBI’s Rapid Response social media account late Wednesday said, “It’s simple: Anyone who is not on board with THIS FBI under the leadership of President Trump — which has achieved the lowest murder rate ever — is free to leave.”

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Heat wave forecast: Dangerous temps to continue into July 4 holiday

54 min ago - July 2, 2026, 9:38 AM A dangerous heat wave is bringing prolonged extreme heat to more than two dozen states across the Midwest, the South and the East Coast. The heat wave began in the Midwest on Monday and has since spread east, where it's set to ... (ABC News)

FBI directing hundreds of analysts to dig into Georgia election probe subjects, sources say

1 hr ago - Jul. 2, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT The FBI is surging resources into what it calls a “priority” investigation related to the 2020 election in Georgia, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter, in an extraordinary effort by the nation ... (MS NOW News)

Venezuelan security guard pulled alive from building basement 8 days after twin quakes

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Hegseth faces off with 'Free DC' protesters at National Guard event

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'Ingratitude!' Hegseth lashes out at 'ingrates' burying Trump's top officials in boos

2 hrs ago - Nicole Charky-Chami July 2, 2026 10:27AM ET Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was furious as demonstrators overpowered Trump administration officials speaking to a crowd of National Guard members on Thursday. Hegseth, White House Deputy Chief of Staff ... (raw story)

Trump vows to give long July 4 address even if it is 107 degrees

2 hrs ago - President Trump on Wednesday vowed that he will deliver a long speech on the National Mall for the U.S.’s 250th birthday, even as forecasters anticipate temperatures climbing to 107 degrees. “By the way, on July 4th, it’s going to be a ... (The Hill)

Colorado governor fires two clemency board members who spoke out about Tina Peters' commutation

2 hrs ago - PUBLISHED Jul 2, 2026, 1:34 AM ET Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday fired two members of the state’s clemency board after they spoke out against his controversial decision to grant clemency to Tina Peters – an election denier whose sen ... (CNN Politics)

The Onion's new parody of Alex Jones' Infowars starts with $100,000 to Sandy Hook families

4 hrs ago - July 2, 2026, 3:41 AM EDT The satirical news site The Onion isn’t waiting to take possession of Infowars to launch a parody of Alex Jones ’ conspiracy platform. More than a year after first trying to buy Infowars, The Onion on Thursday wil ... (NBC News/AP)

New Jersey is set to charge companies with workers on Medicaid. Other states may follow

4 hrs ago - Updated 7:18 AM EDT, July 2, 2026 New Jersey is launching a new fee on companies whose workers have Medicaid health coverage instead of being covered by their employers. Other states are considering it, too. Democratic lawmakers and governors see it ... (AP)

U.S. economy added 57,000 jobs in June, less than expected; unemployment rate at 4.2%

5 hrs ago - Published Thu, Jul 2 2026 8:31 AM EDT Updated 10 Min Ago The U.S. economy saw job creation cool sharply heading into the summer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday. Nonfarm payrolls for June increased by a seasonally adjusted 57,000 fo ... (CNBC)

Navy Crewmember Missing After Helicopter Conducts Emergency Landing In Arabian Sea

5 hrs ago - Jul 1, 2026, 11:20 PM EDT The U.S. Navy is searching for a missing crewmember after a helicopter conducted an emergency water landing in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday, military officials said in a social media statement. “There is no indication t ... (Huff Post)

Trump hijacked US's 250 anniversary to serve 'political ideology and pet projects', congressional report says

6 hrs ago - Thu 2 Jul 2026 06.00 EDT Last modified on Thu 2 Jul 2026 06.01 EDT Donald Trump staged a hostile takeover of the US’s 250th anniversary celebration to enrich political allies, harvest voter data and promote Christian nationalist ideology, accord ... (The Guardian)

White House UFO council will be led by Harvard professor known for controversial alien theories

6 hrs ago - Updated on: July 1, 2026 / 8:23 PM EDT A polarizing Harvard University astronomer known for splashy theories about alien visits has been tapped by the White House to lead a team of outside scientists to study the national security risks posed by UFOs ... (CBS News/AP)

DOJ whistleblower urges Senate to probe whether Todd Blanche dodged records laws

6 hrs ago - July 1, 2026 10:48PM ET A Department of Justice whistleblower is pressing the Senate to investigate Trump's nominee for Attorney General. In a Wednesday piece, fired DOJ attorney Liz Oyer shared a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee where she s ... (Raw Story)

Letter from Philly mayor urges PECO and union to avoid strike before July 4

7 hrs ago - Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker sent a letter to PECO and IBEW urging them to come to resolution on contract negotiations as a strike looms. By Emily Rose Grassi, Brendan Brightman and Dylan Steinberg • Published July 1, 2026 • Updated o ... (nbcphiladelphia)

Trump appeals a ruling that blocks parts of his order to restrict voting by mail

7 hrs ago - Updated July 1, 2026 9:50 PM ET An executive order by President Trump that seeks to enlist the U.S. Postal Service to limit voting by mail has hit legal hurdles. On June 25, a Boston-based judge blocked key parts of the order that, at least so far, ... (NPR)

DHS Sets Work Permit Expiration Dates for TPS Holders

7 hrs ago - Published Jul 01, 2026 at 07:55 PM EDT updated Jul 01, 2026 at 07:56 PM EDT Hundreds of thousands of immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) received an update to their work authorizations on Wednesday, courtesy of the Trump Administration, ... (Newsweek)

Dems rail against corruption after Trump financial disclosure

8 hrs ago - 07/01/26 6:03 PM ET In his annual financial disclosure released Tuesday, Trump revealed about $594 million in income from World Liberty Financial, the crypto business he launched with his sons in fall 2024, and another $635 million that appears to be ... (The Hill)

Record number of West Nile virus cases since 2004, CDC warns ahead of holiday weekend

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Sweeping review of grand jury presentations underway in Chicago following misconduct revelations

9 hrs ago - Updated 5:23 PM EDT, July 1, 2026 WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Department officials are conducting a sweeping review of more than 1,000 grand jury presentations made by Illinois prosecutors following the dismissal of a high-profile case over miscon ... (AP)