Americans celebrating Independence Day in the nation&#8217;s capital this year will witness an unprecedented display of American military aviation as hundreds of aircraft take to the skies over Washington, D.C., during President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Salute to America 250&#8221; celebration.
Organizers have billed the event as the largest aerial celebration in American history, featuring hourly military flyovers, demonstration flights, and precision aerial performances throughout the afternoon and evening before what the White House has described as the largest fireworks display ever held in the United States.
According to Freedom 250, the nonprofit coordinating the nation&#8217;s 250th birthday celebrations, military flyover demonstrations will begin at 1:15 p.m. and continue every hour until sunset.
The aerial demonstrations are part of a full-day celebration on the National Mall that begins with gates opening at 1 p.m. Opening programming starts at 5 p.m., followed by the official &#8220;Salute to America&#8221; program at 7 p.m. President Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks at approximately 9:45 p.m. before the fireworks begin around 10:30 p.m.
Freedom 250 says the aviation program will showcase aircraft representing every branch of the U.S. military while highlighting both historic and modern American airpower.
One of the marquee attractions is &#8220;America&#8217;s Force One,&#8221; a massive formation led by the next-generation Air Force One aircraft alongside more than a dozen military aircraft from multiple branches of the armed forces. Organizers describe it as a once-in-a-generation tribute honoring America&#8217;s 250th birthday.
The celebration will also feature the Air Force&#8217;s rare Tri-Bomber Formation, bringing together three of America&#8217;s most recognizable strategic bombers, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the supersonic B-1B Lancer, and the legendary B-52 Stratofortress in a single flyover. Modern stealth aircraft will also take center stage during a dedicated &#8220;U.S. Stealth Airpower&#8221; formation showcasing the nation&#8217;s next-generation combat aircraft.
Several of the military&#8217;s premier aerial demonstration teams are scheduled to perform throughout the day. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will demonstrate the precision flying and high-speed maneuvers that have made them one of America&#8217;s most recognizable flight teams, while the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will showcase the capabilities of their F-16 Fighting Falcons in their signature red, white, and blue formation.
The event will also feature demonstrations by some of America&#8217;s most advanced combat aircraft, including the Air Force&#8217;s F-22 Raptor, the Marine Corps&#8217; F-35B Lightning II, the Navy&#8217;s carrier-based F-35C Lightning II, and the Navy&#8217;s F/A-18 Super Hornet &#8220;Rhino&#8221; demonstration team. Attendees will also have the opportunity to watch the MV-22 Osprey, the Marine Corps&#8217; distinctive tiltrotor aircraft capable of transitioning between helicopter and fixed-wing flight. 
The aviation program is being directed by <a href="https://air.show/salute-to-america/">Air Dot Show</a>, one of the nation&#8217;s premier civilian airshow organizations, working in partnership with Freedom 250. The military demonstrations are only one part of what organizers describe as an all-day patriotic celebration. Following the evening program and President Trump&#8217;s remarks, spectators will witness what the White House has called the largest fireworks display in American history. The pyrotechnics are expected to last roughly 40 minutes and will be launched from multiple locations surrounding the National Mall and the Potomac River.
President Trump has repeatedly promoted the celebration, calling it the biggest Fourth of July event ever held in the nation&#8217;s capital.
&#8220;The Fourth of July Airshow, over Washington, D.C., our Great Capital, will be the biggest, by far, in the History of the United States of America,&#8221; Trump wrote on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116817366986980714">Truth Social</a>. &#8220;Hundreds of Planes, of different types, sizes, and speeds, will be on display.&#8221; 
He also described the evening fireworks as &#8220;approximately ten times larger than any Fireworks in the History of our Country.&#8221; Officials are encouraging attendees to arrive early due to expected crowds. Security checkpoints will open at 1 p.m., nearly ten hours before the fireworks begin, with attendance near the Washington Monument expected to be capped.
The celebration serves as the centerpiece of America&#8217;s year-long semiquincentennial festivities commemorating the 250th anniversary of the nation&#8217;s founding on July 4, 1776, with similar Freedom 250 events planned across the country throughout the coming year.

Fourth Of July Military Flyover

Hundreds Of Military Aircraft To Roar Over D.C. For Trump’s Fourth Of July

Hundreds Of Military Aircraft To Fill D.C. Skies During Trump's Fourth Of July Celebration

Pope Leo XIV took the most significant disciplinary action of his young pontificate on Thursday, formally excommunicating the breakaway Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) after the group ignored his personal plea not to consecrate bishops without papal approval.
One day after the radical traditionalist fraternity ordained four new bishops in Switzerland in direct violation of canon law, the Vatican&#8217;s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a <a href="https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20260702_decreto-scomunica-fsspx_it.html">decree</a> declaring the SSPX to be in schism with the Catholic Church.
The decree declared that the two bishops who performed the consecrations, along with the four newly ordained bishops, had incurred automatic excommunication under canon law. The Vatican went further still, warning Catholic clergy and lay faithful not to formally adhere to the SSPX&#8217;s schism, stating that those who do likewise risk excommunication.
In an accompanying <a href="https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20260702_nota-esplicativa-fsspx_it.html">explanatory note</a>, the Vatican also reversed pastoral concessions previously granted to the society under Pope Francis, declaring that confessions heard by SSPX priests and marriages performed by them are now invalid.
The decision came after Pope Leo made a final <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/letters/2026/documents/20260629-lettera-fraternita-sanpiox.html">personal appeal</a> to the society not to proceed with the illicit ordinations. &#8220;In this spirit, and filled with Christian affection, I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: Please turn back,&#8221; the pope wrote before the ceremony.
The SSPX ignored the warning and proceeded with a five-hour ceremony in Écône, Switzerland, attended by roughly 16,000 worshippers. The confrontation marks the most serious internal crisis of Leo&#8217;s pontificate thus far, but it is also the culmination of a dispute stretching back more than half a century.
The Society of St. Pius X was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in opposition to reforms adopted after the Second Vatican Council. While best known for celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass, the society&#8217;s objections extend well beyond liturgical preferences. The group has rejected aspects of Vatican II concerning religious liberty, ecumenism, and the Church&#8217;s relationship with other faiths, while frequently accusing modern Church leaders of doctrinal error.
The conflict first boiled over in 1988 when Lefebvre consecrated four bishops without the permission of Pope John Paul II. The Vatican immediately declared him and the newly ordained bishops excommunicated. Subsequent popes sought reconciliation rather than permanent separation.
Pope Benedict XVI lifted the bishops&#8217; excommunications in 2009 as part of an effort to heal the divide, while Pope Francis made extraordinary pastoral concessions by allowing SSPX priests to validly hear confessions and assist at marriages despite the society remaining outside full communion with Rome. Those efforts ultimately failed to bring the fraternity back into the Church.
The Vatican noted Thursday that decades of theological dialogue dating back to Pope St. Paul VI had not resulted in reconciliation, and that the SSPX&#8217;s latest decision to consecrate bishops without papal approval constituted a definitive schismatic act. 
The decree also makes clear that the sanctions do not apply broadly to Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass. Rather, they apply to the Society of St. Pius X and those who formally adhere to what the Vatican now describes as its schism. Many traditionalist communities remain in full communion with the Holy See while continuing to celebrate the pre-Vatican II liturgy under the Church&#8217;s authority.
Even as it imposed the Church&#8217;s most severe canonical penalty, the Vatican left open the possibility of reconciliation. The decree states that &#8220;the Church, as a caring mother, will welcome with sincere affection and lively solicitude all those who wish to return to full communion.&#8221;

VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-CONCLAVE

Pope Leo Excommunicates Breakaway Traditionalist Sect From Catholic Church

President Donald Trump&#8217;s promise to host the largest Independence Day fireworks display in American history has apparently sparked a new concern from the legacy media: fireworks smoke.
Just days before Americans gather in the nation&#8217;s capital to celebrate the country&#8217;s 250th anniversary festivities, The Washington Post published a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/07/01/july-fourth-fireworks-likely-cause-hazardous-air-pollution-documents-show/">report</a> warning that the massive pyrotechnic display planned for July 4 could create &#8220;hazardous levels of pollution&#8221; and &#8220;very unhealthy&#8221; air quality around the National Mall.
The newspaper cited internal National Park Service documents projecting elevated levels of fine particulate matter — known as PM2.5 — for several hours after the approximately 40-minute fireworks show concludes.
The Post focused primarily on the smoke the display is expected to generate. According to the outlet, draft National Park Service modeling predicts particulate matter concentrations between 600 and 1,200 micrograms per cubic meter in the most likely scenario, with a worst-case projection exceeding 2,000 micrograms depending on weather conditions.
The paper reported that attendees should &#8220;avoid prolonged exposure&#8221; to the smoke and highlighted recommendations that people wear N95 masks outdoors and remain indoors as much as possible during and after the fireworks show.
Yet buried within the report is an admission that undercuts much of its alarm. The Post acknowledges that projected pollution levels of up to 1,200 micrograms per cubic meter &#8220;match what have been recorded with other fireworks events.&#8221;
In other words, the National Park Service&#8217;s own projections indicate the expected pollution levels are consistent with what has previously been measured during large fireworks displays, even as the newspaper frames this year&#8217;s celebration as a significant public health concern.
The Washington Post article also quotes New York University professor George Thurston, who recommended that people use &#8220;the precautionary principle&#8221; by minimizing exposure and suggested that &#8220;an N95 mask would be a good idea.&#8221;
The celebration, dubbed &#8220;Salute to America,&#8221; is expected to feature roughly 850,000 fireworks launched from multiple locations around Washington, D.C., alongside military flyovers, live musical performances, and remarks from President Trump. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has described the display as a &#8220;must-see event,&#8221; while Trump has touted it as the largest fireworks show in American history.
&#8220;The Fourth of July Airshow, over Washington, D.C., our Great Capital, will be the biggest, by far, in the History of the United States of America,&#8221; Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this week.
&#8220;Hundreds of Planes, of different types, sizes, and speeds, will be on display. &#8230; I will be speaking at approximately 9 P.M., preceding the Fireworks which again, like the Airshow, will be approximately ten times larger than any Fireworks in the History of our Country.&#8221;
The Post further highlighted internal agency guidance stating pollution could remain elevated for three to six hours after the show and even ventured into environmental justice concerns.
One internal Park Service document reportedly instructed staff to &#8220;not treat race, ethnicity, income, disability, age, or language as risks by themselves,&#8221; while noting that some predominantly black and lower-income neighborhoods are located near the fireworks sites.
The coverage was quickly echoed by <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/disturbing-reality-of-donald-trumps-huge-july-4-fireworks-display-exposed/">The Daily Beast</a>, which similarly warned readers that Trump&#8217;s fireworks show would create &#8220;hazardous levels of pollution&#8221; and emphasized recommendations for masks and limiting outdoor exposure.
The outlet also spotlighted concerns over summer heat and security restrictions surrounding the event while noting White House hopes for a large turnout after Trump&#8217;s kickoff rally for the America 250 celebration.
Trump, meanwhile, has encouraged Americans to attend what he has called an unprecedented patriotic celebration. &#8220;So, if you like Airplanes and Fireworks and President Trump, be there!&#8221; the president wrote.

Fireworks on the Fourth of July, Washington, D.C.

Washington Post Panics Over Trump’s July Fourth Fireworks: ‘Wear An N95 Mask’

America 250

Donald Trump

Fireworks

Fourth of July

Washington Post

President Donald Trump celebrated one of America&#8217;s most iconic presidents Wednesday as he traveled to North Dakota for the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, touring exhibits, chatting with an artificial intelligence recreation of the 26th president, and delivering remarks honoring his legacy. 
The event, held in Medora on the edge of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, marked one of the signature celebrations surrounding America&#8217;s 250th birthday and brought together administration officials, Roosevelt enthusiasts, and thousands of supporters in the North Dakota Badlands.
One of the day&#8217;s most memorable moments came inside the new library, where Trump held a brief conversation with an AI-generated version of Theodore Roosevelt. &#8220;Every day a president faces storms most people never see, but if you keep your nerve and remember the nation comes first, you get through,&#8221; the virtual Roosevelt told Trump. &#8220;I know you know that feeling yourself.&#8221;
Trump responded warmly. &#8220;Well, I appreciate those words,&#8221; the president replied. &#8220;Those words are fantastic, and I just want to say it&#8217;s an honor to be with you today.&#8221;
The exchange continued as Trump asked Roosevelt whether building the Panama Canal was his greatest achievement—a project the current president has repeatedly praised as one of the greatest feats in American history.
The AI Roosevelt responded that he measured success &#8220;by the lives improved,&#8221; while Trump later told the crowd he still considers the canal one of Roosevelt&#8217;s most remarkable accomplishments. &#8220;He built the Panama Canal,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;It was one of the most amazing things ever done.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
President Trump asks AI President Roosevelt…“Do you consider the Panama Canal your greatest achievement?” <a href="https://t.co/zvfDCL2sKS">pic.twitter.com/zvfDCL2sKS</a>
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://x.com/MargoMartin47/status/2072393375244804320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
Following the tour, Trump <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhoF5_COLLU">addressed supporters</a> gathered at the Burning Hills Amphitheater overlooking the Badlands, where Rough Rider reenactors flanked the stage in tribute to Roosevelt&#8217;s legendary volunteer cavalry regiment.
&#8220;I&#8217;m honoring Theodore Roosevelt, and that&#8217;s the man who I have long admired,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;He&#8217;s one of the few. I don&#8217;t admire too many people.&#8221; 
Trump spent much of his remarks recounting Roosevelt&#8217;s adventurous life, from his days ranching in the Dakota Territory to leading the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War before eventually ascending to the presidency. 
&#8220;He had a freakin&#8217; wild life,&#8221; Trump joked. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t want to be quiet. He wanted to be great.&#8221;
Calling Roosevelt &#8220;an American man through and through,&#8221; Trump praised the former president&#8217;s confidence, patriotism, and belief in America&#8217;s destiny. &#8220;His chest swelled with American optimism, confidence, enthusiasm, pride,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;His heart beat with an unyielding sense of America&#8217;s destiny and pride.&#8221;
Trump also announced that the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library will receive $750,000 through the National Endowment for the Humanities to support exhibits during its inaugural year. 
&#8220;So they&#8217;re getting a nice check,&#8221; the president told the crowd. 
Earlier in the day, Trump rode aboard the specially decorated Freedom 250 train through the Badlands before touring the library&#8217;s exhibits, which include Roosevelt&#8217;s journals, interactive displays, and a gallery dedicated to his famous &#8220;Man in the Arena&#8221; excerpt from the 1910 &#8220;Citizenship in a Republic&#8221; speech.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who championed construction of the library while serving as North Dakota&#8217;s governor, has repeatedly cited Roosevelt as one of America&#8217;s transformational presidents and described the new museum as an important part of the nation&#8217;s semiquincentennial celebration.
For Trump, Roosevelt has long occupied a special place among American presidents. During Wednesday&#8217;s remarks, he again pointed to Roosevelt&#8217;s energy, strength, and willingness to pursue bold national projects. The president even noted with amusement that while Roosevelt was immensely popular in North Dakota, &#8220;I got more votes&#8221; in the state than his predecessor.
The library itself sits on land deeply connected to Roosevelt&#8217;s life. After losing both his wife and mother on the same day in 1884, Roosevelt came west to the Dakota Badlands, where ranch life helped shape the rugged outlook that would later define his presidency. He would later famously remark that he never would have become president had it not been for his experiences in North Dakota.
&nbsp;

Trump White House

Trump’s Most Unusual Conversation Of The Day Was With Theodore Roosevelt

Artificial Intelligence

Executive

North Dakota

Politics

Theodore Roosevelt

Former CIA Director John Brennan, who helped oversee the intelligence community&#8217;s investigation into alleged ties between Donald Trump&#8217;s 2016 campaign and Russia, sued the Justice Department on Wednesday before prosecutors have even charged him with a crime.
Brennan filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking an order requiring the Trump administration to preserve records related to two ongoing Justice Department investigations examining his conduct.
The move comes as federal investigators continue probing Brennan&#8217;s role in the intelligence community&#8217;s 2017 assessment concluding that Russia sought to help Trump win the 2016 election, as well as whether Brennan gave misleading testimony to Congress about that assessment during testimony in 2023.
No criminal charges have been filed against Brennan. Nevertheless, Brennan&#8217;s legal team argues that any future prosecution would amount to political retaliation by the Trump administration and says preserving government records now is necessary to support what they describe as an eventual defense against &#8220;vindictive and selective prosecution.&#8221;
&#8220;This Administration has adopted a policy of using criminal process and prosecution to punish the President&#8217;s perceived adversaries,&#8221; Brennan&#8217;s attorneys wrote in the <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.294102/gov.uscourts.dcd.294102.1.0.pdf">46-page complaint.</a> The filing names President Donald Trump, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, and several Justice Department officials involved in the investigations. 
According to Brennan&#8217;s attorneys, they fear government officials may fail to preserve internal communications that could be relevant if prosecutors ultimately seek an indictment. The Justice Department declined to confirm whether Brennan is under criminal investigation.
&#8220;While we cannot comment on the existence, or lack thereof, of an investigation, it is certainly rich that John Brennan is accusing anyone of a &#8216;retribution campaign,'&#8221; a DOJ spokesman said to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ex-cia-chief-john-brennan-sues-trump-administration-demands-court-preserve-investigation-records">Fox News Digital</a>. The investigations into Brennan have steadily expanded over the past year.
One inquiry centers on whether Brennan misled Congress regarding the intelligence community&#8217;s conclusions about Russian interference in the 2016 election. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan previously referred Brennan to the Justice Department for possible prosecution after questioning his congressional testimony.
Investigators have also reportedly interviewed current and former intelligence officials involved in drafting the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that concluded Moscow sought to boost Trump&#8217;s candidacy.
That review has focused in part on whether the controversial <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sues-christopher-steele-over-shocking-and-scandalous-claims-made-in-discredited-dossier?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Sues+Christopher+Steele+Over+%E2%80%98Shocking+And+Scandalous%E2%80%99+Claims+Made+In+Discredited+Dossier">Steele dossier</a> — a collection of unverified allegations about Trump funded by his political opponents — inappropriately influenced the intelligence assessment&#8217;s conclusions. Brennan has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has maintained that the intelligence community&#8217;s assessment accurately reflected Russia&#8217;s efforts to interfere in the election.
A separate Justice Department investigation reportedly examines what prosecutors have described as a broader conspiracy involving Obama-era and Biden-era officials, looking into whether multiple investigations targeting Trump—including the Russia probe and later criminal investigations—were part of a coordinated effort to undermine him politically.
Brennan&#8217;s attorneys argue that those investigations themselves demonstrate political bias. The complaint points to personnel changes inside the Justice Department, including the replacement of a career national security prosecutor with Joseph diGenova, a former Trump attorney who has publicly called Brennan &#8220;evil&#8221; and a &#8220;traitor.&#8221;
The filing also alleges prosecutors attempted to move aspects of the investigation between different U.S. Attorney&#8217;s offices and sought venues that Brennan&#8217;s lawyers believe would be more favorable to the government&#8217;s case.
Rather than waiting to challenge an indictment, Brennan is asking the court to preserve emails, memoranda, witness statements, status reports, and other internal communications that could later become evidence supporting claims that prosecutors acted with improper political motives.
The filing comes as the Trump administration continues investigating several high-profile officials connected to previous investigations into Trump, including former intelligence and FBI personnel involved in the Russia inquiry. 
Whether Brennan is ultimately charged remains unknown. His lawsuit seeks to preserve records he argues could become relevant if prosecutors later bring charges.

CIA Director John Brennan Testifies To Senate Committee Hearing On National Security

Former Spy Chief Behind Russia Collusion Probe Takes Unusual Legal Step

Courts

John Brennan

justice department

Lawsuit

Russia Collusion Hoax

The Department of Homeland Security is condemning Minnesota leaders after the state&#8217;s Board of Pardons granted clemency to a man convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl, a move the Trump administration says could complicate his removal from the United States.
The board, which includes Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison, and state Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, voted on June 10 to pardon Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national who lost his legal immigration status after his 2006 conviction of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
According to <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/07/01/minnesota-madness-governor-tim-walz-pardons-criminal-illegal-alien-convicted">DHS</a>, Vang lost his legal immigration status following his conviction and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge in 2006. For years, Laos refused to accept many deportees, a policy that changed after President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025. Federal officials say he was on the verge of being deported before the pardon was granted.
&#8220;Governor Tim Walz&#8217;s decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting,&#8221; Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement released by DHS.
&#8220;These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his Minnesota sanctuary politicians are protecting,&#8221; Bis added. &#8220;Following the conviction, he was placed in removal proceedings and issued a final order of removal by a judge. This pardon will take away this child rapist&#8217;s qualifying convictions that made him removable from the United States.&#8221;
According to court documents cited by DHS, Vang repeatedly sexually assaulted a girl between 2002 and 2004. Investigators said he attempted to pay the victim $10 to remain silent about the abuse. Court records also state that during a police interview, Vang attempted to justify his actions by claiming it was &#8220;a cultural thing&#8221; to marry and have sex with girls as young as 12, and argued the victim should also be arrested.
According to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/us/politics/minnesota-pardon-sexual-abuser.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uVA._PKl.HFrBqKOvwsY8&amp;amp;smid=url-share">New York Times</a>, the Minnesota Board of Pardons granted the pardon after a review process that included letters submitted on Vang&#8217;s behalf. One of those letters came from the victim herself, who told the board she had forgiven Vang and supported his request for clemency. Minnesota officials have said the victim&#8217;s statement weighed heavily in their decision.
The Ramsey County Attorney&#8217;s Office, which prosecuted the original case, opposed the pardon. Prosecutors argued the offense was exceptionally serious and noted Vang had originally received a lenient sentence in part because the victim, who was 12 when the case was prosecuted, faced pressure from family members not to cooperate with authorities.
DHS also pointed to the decision as part of what it says is a broader pattern. The department noted that Minnesota&#8217;s Clemency Review Commission previously approved a pardon for another Laotian immigrant whose criminal history included armed robbery and drunk driving.
The controversy comes as the Trump administration continues to prioritize the deportation of criminal non-citizens and has repeatedly criticized Democratic-led states over immigration enforcement and so-called sanctuary policies.
Whether the pardon ultimately prevents Vang&#8217;s deportation remains to be determined through the immigration court system. However, federal officials argue that removing the conviction underlying his removal order could significantly complicate those efforts.

Tim Walz announces he won’t seek reelection for Minnesota governor, January 2026

DHS Slams Blue State That Pardoned Child Sex Offender Facing Deportation

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is courting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other prominent left-wing figures as she lays the groundwork for a possible 2028 presidential campaign, according to a new report.
<a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/01/harris-mamdani-progressives-2028">Axios</a> reported Wednesday that Harris privately called Mamdani last week to discuss the future of the Democratic Party and plans to continue the conversation in future meetings.
The call came just days after several democratic socialist candidates backed by Mamdani defeated incumbent Democrats in New York City congressional primaries, further cementing the mayor&#8217;s growing influence on the party&#8217;s left flank.
The outreach is part of a broader effort by Harris to repair and strengthen ties with far-left Democrats who were often skeptical of her during the 2024 presidential campaign. Harris has also held private meetings with progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), as well as pro-Palestinian activists who sharply criticized the Biden-Harris administration&#8217;s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Among those Harris has met with is Abbas Alawieh, a co-founder of the Uncommitted Movement, a campaign that emerged during the 2024 Democratic primary to protest President Joe Biden&#8217;s support for Israel. Alawieh added that Harris initiated months of private conversations before requesting a recent meeting in Detroit, where he reiterated his opposition to U.S. taxpayer dollars being used &#8220;to target civilians or destroy entire communities.&#8221;
During the 2024 campaign, the Uncommitted Movement unsuccessfully pushed Harris to allow a Palestinian American to address the Democratic National Convention. Many activists ultimately declined to endorse her after concluding she had not broken sufficiently with Biden&#8217;s Middle East policy.
The renewed outreach signals Harris is attempting to rebuild relationships with a bloc of Democratic voters expected to wield significant influence in a crowded 2028 presidential primary.
The former vice president also recently spoke with longtime Democratic National Committee member James Zogby, an advocate for Palestinian rights, according to people familiar with the conversations.
Harris has also reportedly been discussing broader policy issues — including China, artificial intelligence, and Venezuela — with former aides and Democratic officials as speculation continues over whether she will seek the presidency again.
The outreach to Mamdani comes as the New York mayor has rapidly become one of the Democratic Party&#8217;s most influential leaders. His endorsements helped propel several democratic socialist candidates to primary victories in recent months, underscoring the growing organizational strength of the party&#8217;s left wing.
Mamdani <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/harris-reaches-out-socialist-mayor-mamdani-latest-sign-shes-shoring-up-support-possible-2028-bid">confirmed</a> he had spoken with Harris. &#8220;The vice president reached out to have a conversation, and we&#8217;ve had a brief conversation,&#8221; he said Wednesday on SiriusXM. &#8220;We&#8217;ve been in touch over the last few months, and I really do appreciate her outreach.&#8221;
The former vice president has offered some of her clearest signals yet that she is considering another White House bid. Earlier this year, when asked whether she planned to run in 2028, Harris <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/10/kamala-harris-run-president-2028-election">responded</a>, &#8220;I might. I&#8217;m thinking about it &#8230; I&#8217;ll keep you posted.&#8221;
While Harris remains an early front-runner in many Democratic primary polls, she continues to face questions from multiple factions within her party after her 2024 defeat to President Donald Trump.
Her latest outreach suggests that winning back the skeptical left-wing, particularly activists who opposed the Biden administration&#8217;s Israel policy, could become a central part of any future presidential campaign.

Vice President Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris Courts Mamdani To Shore Up Support For Potential 2028 Run

Kamala Harris Privately Calls Mamdani To Talk Strategy, Looks To Strengthen Her Left Flank

A 10-year-old Missouri boy has been charged with murder after allegedly fatally shooting a 7-month-old baby girl, while the infant&#8217;s 19-year-old father is also facing felony charges after police say he left the firearm accessible to children inside the home.
The shooting occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on June 26 at a residence in the 8400 block of North Broadway in St. Louis. According to the <a href="https://slmpd.org/infant-dies-in-baden-shooting/">St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department</a>, officers responded to reports of a shooting and found 7-month-old Kiyomi Parker suffering from a gunshot wound inside the home. Officers rushed the infant to a nearby hospital in a patrol SUV, but despite lifesaving efforts by officers and medical personnel, she died.
Homicide detectives and child abuse detectives launched a joint investigation, which police say determined that a 10-year-old boy was responsible for the shooting. The boy was taken into custody and has since been charged with first-degree murder in juvenile court. According to <a href="https://www.firstalert4.com/2026/06/28/father-7-month-old-killed-charged-with-2nd-degree-murder/">local reporting</a>, he is believed to be the youngest person ever charged with murder in Missouri.
Police have not publicly identified the child because he is a juvenile. Authorities also arrested the infant&#8217;s father, 19-year-old Ca&#8217;Marion Pawnell, after investigators determined the gun used in the shooting belonged to him.
Pawnell has been charged with one count of second-degree felony murder, one count of endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child creating a substantial risk.
<div id="attachment_1126935" style="width: 233px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1126935" class="size-medium wp-image-1126935" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg-223x300.webp" alt="" width="223" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg-223x300.webp 223w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg-429x576.webp 429w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg-768x1031.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg-1144x1536.webp 1144w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/st-louis-19-year-old-132703961.jpg.webp 1525w" sizes=" (max-width: 223px) 100vw, 223px" />Ca&#8217;Marion Pawnell, 19.                      St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department</div>
According to court documents, witnesses told investigators that the 10-year-old picked up the gun and fired it while a 7-month-old child was also inside the home.
Investigators said the 10-year-old told police he knew the gun was hidden underneath a mattress in a bedroom, had been aware of its location for an extended period of time, and had previously removed and handled the weapon.
Court documents state that Pawnell admitted the firearm belonged to him and acknowledged that he had stored it beneath the mattress where the child described finding it.
Police have not publicly explained the relationship between Pawnell and the 10-year-old. Pawnell is being held without bond.
Prosecutors allege Pawnell&#8217;s decision to leave a loaded gun accessible to children contributed to his daughter&#8217;s death.
The investigation remains ongoing.

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President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Republicans will make history this September by holding the party&#8217;s first national convention during a midterm election year, an unprecedented gathering designed to energize voters and showcase the administration&#8217;s accomplishments ahead of November.
The Republican convention will take place September 9-10 in Dallas, marking the first time the GOP has staged a national convention outside of a presidential election cycle.
&#8220;BIG NEWS! For the first time ever, the Republican Party will hold a MIDTERM CONVENTION,&#8221; Trump announced on Truth Social. Calling it a &#8220;truly Historic Event,&#8221; Trump said Republicans will celebrate what he described as the &#8220;Great American Comeback&#8221; and the successes of his America First agenda.
The president said the convention will feature &#8220;hardworking Americans, our Great Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Manufacturers, First Responders, and Job Creators,&#8221; alongside entertainment and what he promised would be &#8220;a RALLY like none other.&#8221;
Although Trump first floated the idea <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115215261916717696">last year</a>, Tuesday&#8217;s announcement confirms that the event is officially moving forward after the Republican National Committee approved<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/scoop-rnc-eyes-america-first-midterm-convention-boost-trump-gop-ahead-critical-elections" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> rule changes</a> earlier this year that allow for a national convention outside the traditional four-year presidential cycle.
The convention comes as Republicans defend a razor-thin House majority and a narrow Senate majority, where even a handful of losses could hand Democrats control of Congress for the remainder of Trump&#8217;s term.
Historically, the president&#8217;s party almost always loses seats during midterm elections, and Republican strategists have <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/18/republicans-trump-campaign-trail-00657271">acknowledged</a> the challenge of motivating voters without Trump&#8217;s name appearing on the ballot. The convention is intended to help counter that trend by putting Trump himself at the center of the campaign and nationalizing congressional races around his administration&#8217;s record.
In his announcement, Trump highlighted a list of administration priorities he said Republicans will celebrate during the convention, including tax relief, border security, lower costs, increased domestic energy production, and what he described as the country&#8217;s &#8220;Golden Age.&#8221;
Holding the event in Texas also places a national spotlight on one of the country&#8217;s most consequential battlegrounds. Texas will feature multiple competitive House races, while Republicans also are defending a closely watched Senate seat between Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat Texas state Representative James Talarico. The state also remains central to Republican efforts to preserve and expand their congressional majority following this year&#8217;s mid-decade redistricting fight.
While Republicans move forward with the historic gathering, Democrats ultimately abandoned discussions about organizing a similar midterm convention of their own, despite reportedly considering the idea earlier this year.
The timing of the event is also notable. The convention will conclude on Sept. 10, the first anniversary of the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, whose death last year became a defining moment for many conservatives and prompted renewed discussions about political violence in America. Whether that date becomes part of the convention&#8217;s messaging remains to be seen.

Donald Trump at Republican National Convention in Milwaukee

Trump Reveals Host City For First Ever Midterm Convention In September

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Vice President JD Vance laid out his vision for the future of the Republican Party during a wide-ranging <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQTeDhe63xI">interview</a> with Daily Wire host Michael Knowles released Tuesday, touching on everything from his conversion to Catholicism to artificial intelligence, Iran, and the direction of the conservative movement after President Donald Trump&#8217;s second term.
While much of the conversation focused on Vance&#8217;s new book, Communion, and his journey back to Christianity, it also explored the political philosophy guiding one of the GOP&#8217;s leading figures.
One of the interview&#8217;s biggest takeaways came when Vance declared that today&#8217;s Republican Party has fundamentally moved beyond the economic consensus that defined conservatism for decades.
&#8220;American economic policy on the right is now much more Alexander Hamilton than it is Milton Friedman,&#8221; Vance said, arguing that President Trump&#8217;s political movement has already transformed the GOP&#8217;s approach to trade, tariffs, manufacturing, and industrial policy.
Rather than viewing economic growth as an end in itself, Vance argued that government should prioritize policies that strengthen families, communities, and workers.
&#8220;The economy is a tool to service the dignity of the human person,&#8221; he told Knowles.
Vance also took aim at modern meritocracy, arguing that elite institutions have encouraged Americans to pursue achievement for its own sake instead of focusing on what gives life meaning. He contrasted elite careerism with the importance of family, faith, and community, telling Knowles that &#8220;nobody is on their deathbed&#8221; wishing they had spent less time with their children in exchange for greater wealth.
Knowles also asked Vance about the intellectual influences behind his worldview, prompting discussions of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, René Girard, Pope Leo XIII, and Catholic social teaching. Vance credited those thinkers with helping shape both his religious conversion and his political outlook.
The vice president also reflected on his own conversion to Catholicism, describing his journey from an unchurched evangelical upbringing through atheism before ultimately finding stability in what he called the Catholic Church&#8217;s continuity across generations and its unchanging doctrine.
Beyond philosophy, Knowles pressed Vance on several major policy issues. Discussing the administration&#8217;s handling of Iran, Vance defended President Trump&#8217;s willingness to use military force while rejecting what he characterized as intervention for its own sake.
&#8220;The president is willing to drop bombs,&#8221; Vance said, &#8220;but only if it serves an objective.&#8221;
On artificial intelligence, Vance argued that America must remain competitive with China while also preventing AI from becoming a tool for social harm. He distinguished between AI used for breakthroughs like curing disease and applications that promote pornography, exploit children, or concentrate power among large technology companies.
Looking ahead to the 2028 election, Vance predicted Democrats would likely nominate Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), arguing that universities, rather than labor unions, have become the Democratic Party&#8217;s true center of power.
Vance laid out the broader ideas informing his vision for the Republican Party: one centered on national development, family, faith, and what he repeatedly described as the dignity of the human person, arguing those principles should guide the GOP beyond Trump&#8217;s second term.
Watch the full interview:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XQTeDhe63xI?si=D9QKMsBZ2kKWwSxq" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Knowles/Vance

JD Vance Lays Out Post-Trump Conservative Vision In Interview With Michael Knowles

JD Vance

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The Daily Wire

The Michael Knowles Show

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) revealed Tuesday that the undisclosed medical condition that kept him away from Congress for nearly four months was depression, ending months of speculation about one of the House GOP&#8217;s most closely watched absences.
Returning to the House floor for the first time since early March, Kean disclosed that he was hospitalized after experiencing health concerns and was ultimately diagnosed with depression, a condition he described as far more debilitating than many people realize.
&#8220;Many people think it is feeling sad. It is so much more than that,&#8221; Kean told colleagues. &#8220;It is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.&#8221;
The announcement comes after Kean missed more than 100 House votes and largely disappeared from public view, creating headaches for House Republican leadership as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) attempted to navigate the chamber&#8217;s razor-thin majority.
Kean last cast a vote on March 5 before abruptly stepping away from Congress. His office initially described the situation only as a &#8220;personal medical issue,&#8221; repeatedly declining to elaborate while assuring constituents the congressman expected to make a full recovery.
Earlier this month, Kean&#8217;s political adviser, Harrison Neely, announced the congressman would return to Washington on June 30 and promised he would be &#8220;fully transparent&#8221; about his condition.
On Tuesday, Kean explained that he initially entered the hospital for medical testing before receiving his diagnosis. &#8220;I was given the diagnosis of depression,&#8221; he said. Kean said doctors advised him to remain hospitalized because it offered the quickest path to recovery. &#8220;I was hesitant,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think I had time for it.&#8221;
The second-term Republican acknowledged that when he previously told constituents he expected to return within weeks, he believed that timeline was accurate. &#8220;But as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing,&#8221; Kean said. &#8220;Today I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love.&#8221; Kean characterized himself as &#8220;a private person by nature,&#8221; explaining why he chose not to disclose his diagnosis sooner.
He also encouraged others struggling with mental illness to seek treatment. &#8220;Asking for help is not a weakness,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It is a strength.&#8221; Despite revealing the reason for his prolonged absence, Kean left Capitol Hill immediately after delivering his remarks without answering reporters&#8217; questions, leaving several unresolved what initially prompted his hospitalization.
Speaker Johnson said he had repeatedly encouraged Kean to be more forthcoming with the public during his absence. &#8220;I encouraged him all along to be as transparent as possible,&#8221; Johnson told reporters. &#8220;I&#8217;m glad he finally has.&#8221; Johnson declined to criticize Kean further, saying the decision ultimately rested with the New Jersey congressman. &#8220;It&#8217;s his personal issue,&#8221; the speaker said.
Kean represents New Jersey&#8217;s highly competitive 7th Congressional District, one of the Democrats&#8217; top pickup opportunities heading into November. His absence became an issue in the race as Democrats questioned whether constituents were receiving adequate representation while Kean remained out of public view. Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, is expected to challenge Kean in what is projected to be one of the country&#8217;s most competitive House contests.
Before Tuesday&#8217;s announcement, President Donald Trump and House Republican leaders had continued backing Kean&#8217;s reelection campaign despite his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-rep-set-to-return-to-congress-after-he-went-mia-for-months">absence</a>. Trump endorsed Kean earlier this month, while Johnson repeatedly defended the congressman&#8217;s right to medical privacy and urged reporters to be patient.
Kean, the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., missed more than 100 House votes during his absence, though his office maintained that he continued to perform constituent services and campaign activities remotely.
The congressman&#8217;s remarks drew support from some lawmakers who have publicly discussed their own struggles with mental illness. At the same time, critics argued that while Kean&#8217;s diagnosis deserved empathy, his constituents also deserved greater transparency during an absence that stretched nearly four months.
New York Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres, who has spoken openly about living with depression, wrote on <a href="https://x.com/RitchieTorres/status/2071993828534346043">X</a> that he had &#8220;deep sympathy for anyone struggling with mental illness,&#8221; but added that &#8220;public office carries a duty of transparency.&#8221;
&#8220;When a public official is absent for an extended period,&#8221; Torres wrote, &#8220;the public has a right to an honest explanation.&#8221;

NJ Rep. Kean Returns To Capitol Hill After Months-Long Absence

Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression

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Democrats are betting a slate of union-backed House candidates can help the party reconnect with working-class voters and donors as it heads into the 2026 midterms facing mounting financial challenges.
Five Democratic congressional candidates announced Tuesday the launch of the &#8220;Blue Collar Brigade,&#8221; a joint fundraising effort aimed at boosting their campaigns while promoting a populist platform centered on lowering costs, strengthening organized labor, and combating government corruption.
The coalition includes Bob Brooks, a firefighter union chief challenging Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA); Randy Villegas, a teacher and union member taking on Rep. David Valadao (R-CA); ironworker Brian Poindexter, who is running against Rep. Max Miller (R-OH); former smokejumper and union leader Sam Forstag, competing in Montana&#8217;s open western district; and Minnesota state Rep. Kaela Berg, a flight attendant and former union leader seeking an open House seat.
The candidates say they are pooling resources because they lack the wealthy donor networks often available to more traditional political candidates.
&#8220;As a union ironworker, my network of folks is very small,&#8221; Poindexter told <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/30/union-democrats-house-fundraising-00980980" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico</a>. &#8220;My very first call time, I called one of my fellow ironworkers and asked for $50, and he was laid off at the time.&#8221;
&#8220;That&#8217;s when I had the understanding of what we&#8217;re really up against when campaigns like my opponent can spend millions of dollars and here I am trying to represent workers in Washington and scraping together $50 bills.&#8221;
The fundraising alliance arrives as Democrats continue searching for ways to rebuild support among blue-collar voters after President Donald Trump expanded his coalition with working-class Americans during the 2024 election.
It also comes as the Democratic Party struggles with fundraising.
The RNC currently <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5863917-nrcc-rnc-fec-2026-midterm-elections/">reports</a> roughly $116 million cash on hand, while the DNC <a href="https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00010603/1968914/">has</a> approximately $13.8 million and carries more than $18 million in debt.
Those financial struggles have fueled growing frustration among Democratic donors, many of whom remain dissatisfied with how the party spent its record-breaking fundraising haul during Kamala Harris&#8217; unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign.
Several longtime Democratic donors have publicly criticized DNC Chairman Ken Martin for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kamala-harris-demands-dnc-release-2024-autopsy-as-she-plots-a-comeback">slow-walking the release</a> of the full post-election <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-finally-admit-what-went-wrong-in-2024">autopsy</a> he promised after taking office. The frustration has reportedly pushed some major donors away from the national party altogether.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t see Ken as a leader,&#8221; one longtime Democratic donor told <a href="https://abcnews.com/Politics/democratic-donors-frustrated-dnc-chair-ken-martin-amid/story?id=132286127">ABC News</a>. &#8220;The DNC reached out to me probably six months ago, and I told them to take me off their list.&#8221;
Against that backdrop, the Blue Collar Brigade represents an attempt to build a different kind of Democratic fundraising operation. Tuesday evening&#8217;s virtual fundraiser is being co-hosted by current and former leaders of several major unions, including the AFL-CIO, Communications Workers of America, Association of Flight Attendants, Iron Workers, and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. 
Reps. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), and Val Hoyle (D-OR), all of whom maintain close ties to organized labor, are serving as honorary chairs.
&#8220;When you&#8217;re a Democratic challenger and you&#8217;re someone who comes from the labor movement &#8230; you don&#8217;t have the same Rolodex as someone who can self-fund millions for their campaign,&#8221; Deluzio said. &#8220;These folks are going to do the hard work to win their races, but they&#8217;ve got to raise money.&#8221;
The coalition is also attempting to reshape the Democratic Party&#8217;s image after years of criticism that it has become disconnected from working-class voters. Villegas argued Democrats can no longer rely solely on opposition to Republicans.
&#8220;It&#8217;s important to actually center working-class candidates and invest in them and make sure that we are prioritizing working families&#8217; issues,&#8221; he said. &#8220;These victories across the country are showing that we can&#8217;t just offer people &#8216;not Trump&#8217; or &#8216;not the Republican incumbent.&#8217; We have to be willing to offer people a vision for something more.&#8221;
That message reflects soul-searching within the Democratic Party after Trump&#8217;s gains among union households and non-college voters accelerated trends that have reshaped American politics over the past decade.
At the same time, the Blue Collar Brigade highlights an irony facing Democrats. While the candidates present themselves as outsiders battling the political establishment, they remain deeply tied to one of the Democratic Party&#8217;s most influential institutional allies: organized labor.

Andrew Cuomo Campaigns For Mayor Ahead Of New York Primary

Union-Backed Democrats Launch ‘Blue Collar Brigade’ To Woo The Working Class

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