Good morning. You are studying the Up First publication. Subscribe right here to get it delivered to your inbox, and hear to the Up First podcast for all of the information you should begin your day.
At this time’s high tales
America celebrated its 250th birthday this weekend. In Washington, the white nationalist group Patriot Entrance marched by means of town, as did counterprotesters. President Trump praised America’s historical past and his battle in Iran whereas criticizing Democrats and vowing to impose restrictions on mail-in ballots throughout his speech on Saturday evening. Trump took to the stage on the Nationwide Mall round 11:15 p.m. ET, after stormy climate precipitated evacuations and delays. Following his roughly 30-minute speech, an enormous fireworks show — billed by the White Home as the biggest in the US’ historical past — illuminated the sky.
Fireworks explode over the Lincoln Memorial throughout Salute to America, an Independence Day occasion honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary, early Sunday, July 5, 2026, on the Nationwide Mall in Washington as seen from Arlington, Va.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
conceal caption
toggle caption
Jose Luis Magana/AP
- 🎧 Trump’s July Fourth speech was overtly political, very like the one he gave at Mount Rushmore on Friday, NPR’s Mara Liasson tells Up First. The president referred to Democrats as “communists,” profiting from the truth that a number of members of the Democratic Socialists of America have gained some primaries, Liasson says. Whereas these victories could not matter in deep-blue districts, Liasson says some Democrats are anxious that swing states and districts could possibly be nominating candidates who’re too far left to win. The president and his occasion are utilizing the phrase “communists” as one technique to paint your complete democratic occasion as too far to the left, Liasson provides. In distinction to Trump’s speech, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani — one of the crucial high-profile democratic socialists in workplace — gave a speech on July 3 at New York’s Metropolis Corridor to newly naturalized residents. Mamdani known as on America to stay a spot of asylum for the persecuted and described a type of patriotism that sees the nation’s flaws and embraces dissent, in keeping with Liasson.
- ➡️ NPR’s member station reporters throughout the U.S. requested individuals how they’re fascinated about their nation on its semiquincentennial. This is what they needed to say.
- ➡️ Voters from NPR’s Swing Shift undertaking talked in regards to the state of the U.S. throughout this milestone 12 months. Their opinions various from “uncertain” and “concerned” to “excited” and “cautiously optimistic.”
Iran is holding its funeral for Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 4 months after he was killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes. Huge crowds came over his casket on the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran, in keeping with Iranian state media. Khamenei and 4 of his members of the family have been killed on the primary day of the battle between the U.S., Israel and Iran. His household’s caskets are additionally a part of the procession. A shaky truce stays in impact between the U.S. and Iran. Oblique talks geared toward negotiating a decision to the battle are paused till after the funeral, in keeping with Qatar’s international minister. Israel has not been included within the preliminary settlement to finish the battle or in these talks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated he needs to journey to Washington, D.C., to debate this matter with Trump.
- 🎧 Netanyahu has been searching for a face-to-face assembly with Trump for a while however has been repeatedly turned down, a supply accustomed to the matter who was not licensed to talk publicly tells NPR. The prime minister needs to debate U.S. approval for probably taking navy motion in opposition to Iran if vital. Netanyahu is at present on the defensive relating to the interim deal between the U.S. and Iran, NPR’s Carrie Kahn says. It has been unpopular and perceived as too lenient towards Iran. Netanyahu, who faces elections this fall, has needed to defend his relationship with Trump, Kahn provides. It is unclear when Netanyahu will meet with Trump on the White Home. The 60-day deadline to finalize the main points of the preliminary peace plan is a couple of month away.
The U.S. males’s nationwide soccer staff faces Belgium tonight in its hardest World Cup matchup but. The winner advances to the quarterfinals. Star striker, Folarin Balogun, will play within the match after Trump spoke to FIFA President Gianni Infantino relating to Balogun’s pink card and one-game suspension for a cleat-first problem. In a extremely uncommon transfer, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee introduced yesterday that it will postpone Balogun’s one-game suspension for a probationary interval of 1 12 months. This determination permits him to take part in any remaining World Cup matches. Balogun is the U.S. nationwide staff’s main scorer, with three targets to this point within the event.
- 🎧 This pink card determination has been difficult from the very starting, NPR’s Becky Sullivan says. It was not a transparent or apparent foul, and the contact appeared unintentional. The referee solely known as the foul after reviewing a slow-motion video replay. Related contact between gamers in different matches throughout this event has gone unpunished, in keeping with Sullivan. FIFA has not been clear about the way it reached its determination.
Life recommendation
A restaurant patron trying up at a menu coated in greenback indicators, with a bemused expression suggesting an surprising shock on the costs.
Abi Inman/NPR
conceal caption
toggle caption
Abi Inman/NPR
Greater costs are driving shoppers away from consuming out, in keeping with a YouGov report. No matter your funds, generally you simply want a break from cooking at house or need to spend time together with your family members. Private finance and diet specialists share easy methods to eat out for much less with Life Package.
- 🍽️ Take into consideration why you are eating out. In case your intent is to socialize, you may get pleasure from a inexpensive diner simply as a lot as a flowery restaurant.
- 🍽️ Check out how a lot you spend on meals outdoors your own home to determine a place to begin to your dining-out funds. This cash ought to be separate from cash for important wants like groceries and the mortgage.
- 🍽️ Learn the menu prematurely. Planning your meal forward may also help you keep away from last-minute orders and eat more healthy.
For extra recommendation on how to economize on meals and groceries, join the Learn how to Lower Your Meals Invoice publication.
Behind the story
By St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Munoz
The Morrisonville Casey’s fuel station sits throughout from grain silos on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio
conceal caption
toggle caption
Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio
Final month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained three younger St. Louis-area immigrants in Morrisonville, Unwell. — a rural village about 45 miles outdoors of the state capitol. The incident occurred shortly after native police dropped them off with a verbal warning for driving with out a legitimate license.
America’ immigration story is as previous because the nation itself. It stretches from Ellis Island to California’s borderlands, from rural cities to main cities — and into the lives of numerous households chasing stability, security and alternative.
As a baby of Latino immigrants, I grew up listening to my neighborhood’s hopes for higher schooling, dependable work, entry to healthcare and an opportunity to construct one thing that may final generations.
These motivations, and the curiosity behind them, have lingered with me years later.
Who will get to name themselves American? What limitations are there? How is coverage altering? When immigration officers allege they’re focusing on violent criminals, who’s truly getting swept up?
St. Louis Public Radio has been exploring these questions throughout Missouri and southern Illinois. After ICE took these three native immigrants, I traveled to Morrisonville, a rural Illinois village lined with grain elevators, silos and railroad tracks.
Immigration advocates reached out, however questions remained: How did this occur? Did police name ICE, probably breaking Illinois regulation? The place are the three younger males now?
I fired off public data requests, drove to Morrisonville and contacted public officers for weeks. Lots of them did not reply. What I did discover raised extra questions.
Whereas extra is now recognized about this story, it does not provide a neat ending. Immigration tales not often do. Nonetheless, we are going to proceed to ask arduous questions, doc what is going on and maintain officers accountable.
3 issues to know earlier than you go
This satellite tv for pc picture from the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration exhibits Hurricane Bavi nearing the U.S. Pacific island territory of Guam on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
NOAA/AP
conceal caption
toggle caption
NOAA/AP
- Tremendous Hurricane Bavi is bringing highly effective winds to the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, as forecasters warn of doubtless extreme harm.
- Memphis police say Nationwide Guard troops shot and killed a person who was armed with a handgun early yesterday morning. State investigators will deal with the case.
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce formally tied the knot in New York after three years of courting, in keeping with a press release from Swift’s publicist.
This text was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
