NPR News: 07-04-2026 10AM EDT

The nation’s 250th birthday celebration kicked off with President Trump in Washington, D.C., where he warned Republicans against losing the midterms, linking the political stakes directly to the Fourth of July festivities. Meanwhile, a dangerous heat wave is blanketing much of the country, new research links parents’ own screen habits to their teens’ social media use, and severe storms tore through the Chicago area and southern Wisconsin. The annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island also got underway, with the heat wave a potential factor for competitors.

Trump’s 250th Birthday Address and Political Warning

President Trump launched the nation’s 250th birthday celebration with a speech on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where crowds gathered for concerts as part of the administration’s “Freedom to 50” celebration. The president used the occasion to deliver a pointed political message, telling supporters, “We can only lose the midterms if we allow ourselves to lose the midterms if we are foolish, stupid and unwise.” He then argued for eliminating the filibuster to pass the Save America Act, saying, “If we terminate the filibuster as we should do and immediately vote for the Save America Act, then we will not lose the Fourth of July celebration.” The event drew crowds to the National Mall for concerts and the president’s address.