Founding Father, third U.S. president, author of the Declaration
Pulitzer-winning historian Gordon S. Wood has died at 92 after being struck by a car in a Rhode Island supermarket parking lot. He has shaped modern understandings of the American Revolution, influencing how scholars view slavery, liberty, and the founding era.
President Donald Trump has unveiled a Qatari‑donated Boeing 747 that the Air Force has converted and repainted as a temporary Air Force One. The plane has completed flight testing, will serve as a "bridge" until purpose‑built VC‑25Bs arrive around 2028, and has drawn questions about cost, security and the ethics of accepting a foreign gift.
The United States marks its semiquincentennial while commentators insist America is still a work in progress. The nation has celebrated, debated, and confronted its founders’ legacy, with civics, law, and culture in the spotlight.
The Reflecting Pool renovation amid America’s 250th celebrations has exposed ongoing problems. Algae blooms reappeared after a $14 million upgrade, while officials cite sabotage and lawmakers probe no‑bid contracts and the costs tied to the milestone.
As the 250th anniversary of independence approaches, scholars argue John Dickinson’s contributions have been overlooked. Calvert, founder of the John Dickinson Writings Project, emphasizes Dickinson’s push for gradual independence and legal protections for the vulnerable, challenging the enduring image of him as a marginal figure.
Swift and Kelce have donated a total of $26 million to 20 charities across the United States ahead of their reported Madison Square Garden wedding, including groups in New York, Kansas City, Nashville and Rhode Island. The gifts span food banks, hospitals, education and animal charities, with national organizations also receiving support. The wedding at MSG is reportedly planned for Friday, with security and venue setups underway.
Donald Trump has used Mount Rushmore addresses to frame communism as a mortal threat while casting progressive Democrats as a broader political risk, as the US marks its 250th anniversary amid heat waves and large-scale political events.
Thousands gather for July 4th celebrations in Washington as security tightens and a severe heat wave tests public endurance. Trump headlines a Freedom 250 program on the National Mall, while other cities adjust plans amid storms and high temperatures.
Trump has framed America’s 250th anniversary as a moment to press for voting restrictions and to cast communists as a threat, delivering a concise, politically charged speech on the National Mall after a weather delay.
A White House Domestic Policy Council report has accused the National Museum of American History of ideological capture and distorting U.S. history, arguing for a restoration of a shared patriotic narrative. Smithsonian leadership rejects claims of partisan activism while officials weigh possible changes.
The 250th anniversary is being marked amid partisan tensions, with leaders touting democracy while critics warn of deeper erosions in institutions and norms.
The White House Domestic Policy Council has released a 162-page report accusing the National Museum of American History of ideological capture and anti-white bias. The document, issued on Independence Day, signals a broader push to reshape how American history is presented. Smithsonian leadership denies politicization while observers weigh possible leadership changes.
The White House has issued an executive order directing sidewalk signs around the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to warn visitors about alleged inaccuracies in the museum’s portrayal of American history and to point to sources for a corrected narrative. Smithsonian leadership defends its scholarship and fullness of America’s story as Republicans press for hearings and potential changes on Capitol Hill.
The White House reveals updated perimeter security plans, including fencing Lafayette Park and a new underground screening facility, as part of a broader modernization drive. Projects are advancing amid ongoing security concerns and dramatic architectural changes across Washington.
The Department of State has begun issuing Patriot Passports, featuring a living president’s portrait, at 27 passport offices nationwide. In-person applications are required on designated days; the gold-embossed interior shows the president’s signature. The move follows a wave of high-visibility tributes to the president, including coins and potential currency signatures.