CNN ran with a quote from a parody account during a segment about Republicans who say they have spoken with ailing former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) during his recent hospitalization.
Host Audie Cornish introduced the segment, which came as speculation continues to swirl about McConnell&#8217;s health. Cornish noted that several prominent Republicans had spoken up in recent days to say that McConnell was still recovering but doing well.
&#8220;You have a lot of Senate Republicans coming out, we&#8217;re going to show some onscreen, all saying, &#8216;I talked to him,&#8217; &#8216;I talked to him,&#8217; &#8216;I talked to him for 20 minutes,&#8217; &#8216;I talked to him for 45 minutes,'&#8221; she said. &#8220;We&#8217;re hearing these pundits talk not just about his potential health, but what they think the issue is: a special election deadline.&#8221;
WATCH:
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OOPS: CNN This Morning cites parody account of fake congressman <a href="https://x.com/RepJackKimble?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJackKimble</a> on list of quotes about Sen. Mitch McConnell&#8217;s health. <a href="https://t.co/GBXJ37bkoe">pic.twitter.com/GBXJ37bkoe</a>
— Nick (@nspin310) <a href="https://x.com/nspin310/status/2074860431240298947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
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But as Cornish spoke, the posts on the screen were from former McConnell adviser and CNN commentator Scott Jennings, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Majority Whip John Barrasso. A fourth post, attributed to &#8220;Rep. Jack Kimble,&#8221; was found to be a parody account.
The quote that appeared on the screen read, &#8220;I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 45 minutes.&#8221;
But the full quote posted by the parody account took the joke a bit further: &#8220;I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 45 minutes. He&#8217;s so sharp. Just like always he let me do all of the talking. He&#8217;s a great listener. After that we prayed silently for awhile and had a staring contest. Just like always, he beat me. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 45 minutes. He&#8217;s so sharp. Just like always he let me do all of the talking. He&#8217;s a great listener. After that we prayed…
— Rep. Jack Kimble (@RepJackKimble) <a href="https://x.com/RepJackKimble/status/2074570956467577094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Other posts from Kimble&#8217;s account might have given it away as a parody as well.
July 6: &#8220;Donald Trump had no choice but to get Balogun reinstated. He’s a birthright citizen and The Supreme Court just ruled we can’t take away their citizenship or give them red cards. Blame the liberal judges.&#8221;
June 30: &#8220;The Supreme Court is just a regular court with sour cream.&#8221;
Kimble&#8217;s X bio should also have given CNN a clue, as it claims that he represents California&#8217;s 54th Congressional District. The state of California only has 52 Congressional Districts.

CNN World Headquarters

CNN Cites Fake Congressman’s Account Of Conversation With McConnell

CNN Cites Fake Congressman's Account Of Conversation With McConnell

Media

Mitch McConnell

Politics

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) called out Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), arguing that he was part of the push to elevate embattled Maine Democrat Graham Platner.
Platner, who is Maine&#8217;s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, has faced a litany of scandals since he entered the race — from a Nazi-inspired tattoo and dubious social media history to multiple accusations of troubling behavior and even rape. Fetterman told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Monday that Sanders ought to apologize for so aggressively pushing Platner.
WATCH:
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Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) on Bernie Sanders support for Graham Platner:
“Honestly I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator more than anyone he helped elected” <a href="https://t.co/qMnv3HY4H4">pic.twitter.com/qMnv3HY4H4</a>
— DSA Watch (@DSA_Watch) <a href="https://x.com/DSA_Watch/status/2074825834842521703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Ingraham noted that almost across the board — with few exceptions, of which Fetterman was one — the Democratic Party had been all too willing to ignore the questionable items in Platner&#8217;s history, and she asked whether any of them should be held responsible for the ensuing situation.
&#8220;I refused to overlook that,&#8221; Fetterman replied. &#8220;But honestly, I would really call Bernie Sanders to apologize for pushing this kind of predator — more than anyone he helped [to] elect — and now apologize to the victims, especially the woman that she claimed that he raped her, so I don&#8217;t know why you want to keep pushing these kinds of people.&#8221;
&#8220;Maybe he should consider [sitting] a few out and stop pushing these kinds of communists, and now people like P. Hustle, now he has been credibly accused of rape — and that&#8217;s fairly recent, too, that was only less than five years ago,&#8221; Fetterman continued.
Fetterman has repeatedly challenged members of his own party over their support for Platner — and has argued that the scandals, even before the rape accusation, should have been disqualifying.

John Fetterman

Fetterman Calls Out Bernie Sanders For Elevating ‘Predator’ Platner

Fetterman: Bernie Sanders Should Apologize For Elevating Platner

Bernie Sanders

graham platner

Democratic Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner released a video denying the accusations of sexual misconduct, disturbing and abusive behavior, and even rape — but some quickly noticed that his speech sounded familiar.
When viewed side by side with a video from disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) — who resigned after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct and assault — it was so similar that it might easily have been scripted by the same person.
WATCH:
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/foGKdXSoSW7Z00sAjbvTtzuU5XbQBEeDA?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=87a702c7-4863-4e0d-9987-d2ffbd45e30a&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=2026-07-08%20Swalwell%20Platner%20Similar%20Denials&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2Ffc7c88c6-7364-4e88-8a3e-c8e37312b26b.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-new-sexual-assault-accusation-rocks-maine-democrat-graham-platner">Platner responded</a> after former girlfriend Jenny Racicot came forward, speaking with both Politico and CNN about the night she said Platner showed up at her home and forced himself on her.
&#8220;I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious, and false allegations against me,&#8221; Platner began, speaking directly to the camera. &#8220;Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false.&#8221;
Platner then spoke of his constituents, saying that he&#8217;d been &#8220;deeply humbled&#8221; by the amount of faith they&#8217;d placed in him and thanking them for welcoming him into their lives throughout his campaign.
&#8220;So regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,&#8221; Platner said, adding, &#8220;As Maine goes, so goes the nation.&#8221;
Swalwell gave a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwell-wont-drop-out-despite-his-metoo-era-kavanaugh-demand">remarkably similar statement</a> in the wake of sexual misconduct and assault accusations just a few months earlier, also speaking directly to the camera.
&#8220;A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations,” Swalwell said at the time. “And I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly.”
“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false, they’re absolutely false,” he added. “They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have. They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor in California.”
“I do not suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I’m a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past,” Swalwell continued. “But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position. I also apologize to you if in any way you have doubted your support for me. But I think you know who I am.”
Within days of releasing the video, Swalwell had dropped out of the California gubernatorial primary — which he was leading — and resigned from Congress.

SEE IT: Compare Swalwell, Platner’s Nearly Identical Denials

SEE IT: Compare Platner, Swalwell's Nearly Identical Denials

Eric Swalwell

Rape

Sexual Assault

Sexual Misconduct

Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell&#8217;s (R-KY) wife Elaine Chao released a statement acknowledging her decision to remain in China despite her husband&#8217;s lengthy hospitalization.
After weeks of public speculation about McConnell&#8217;s condition — and even some rumors that he was not expected to recover — a spokesperson for Chao said she did not believe the senator&#8217;s health was considered serious enough to require cutting her planned trip short.
&#8220;The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family&#8217;s philanthropic endeavors. During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the U.S. ambassador. The senator&#8217;s health did not warrant an immediate return to the US,&#8221; the <a href="https://www.wlky.com/article/elaine-chao-mitch-mcconnell-health-statement/71858467?fbclid=IwY2xjawS6XxxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFiR09rYlJIRlozV1lEWG10c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmqXHN1RvqPWm5GcAUKVkyU7NtTKYD_m1LlbAUC6G9RaZBwk-viy1fLmpXws_aem_TVpgFeulR4GNuDSq2V1PfQ">spokesperson</a> told CBS News affiliate WLKY.
The former Commerce Secretary left the country on June 12, just two days before the news broke that the Kentucky senator had been hospitalized. In the weeks since, Chao completed her travels and returned to the United States — and very little has been heard from Sen. McConnell or his office.
The silence surrounding McConnell led to speculation — both in traditional media and across social media platforms — that the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader could even be on life support.
On July 2, nearly three weeks after McConnell was first hospitalized, his office released a statement to WLKY: &#8220;Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital. The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.&#8221;
In the days that followed, several Republican allies said that they had spoken to the aging senator. CNN commentator and radio host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-republicans-speak-with-hospitalized-mcconnell-to-shut-down-rumors">Scott Jennings</a>, who previously worked as an advisor to McConnell, was among them.
&#8220;I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible,&#8221; he said.

Donald Trump Announces Air Traffic Control Reform Initiative At White House

Mitch McConnell’s Wife Breaks Silence Amid Mysterious Health Saga

Mitch McConnell's Wife Breaks Silence Amid Mysterious Health Saga

Communist China

Senate

Jenny Racicot, 41, said during a CNN interview that aired Monday that Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, a Democrat, had stopped briefly to apologize while he was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-new-sexual-assault-accusation-rocks-maine-democrat-graham-platner">raping her</a>.
Racicot described the scenario to CNN anchor Jake Tapper, claiming that Platner had appeared to be &#8220;blackout drunk&#8221; when he came into her house — and although he did not listen when she told him to stop, there were periods where he &#8220;came to&#8221; and apologized before going right back to what he was doing.
WATCH:
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Ro Khanna and numerous other Democrats have dropped their endorsements of Graham Platner just in time.
Just minutes before CNN&#8217;s Jake Tapper conducted a lengthy exclusive interview with the woman accusing the Senate candidate of r*ping her. <a href="https://t.co/oqyxVuIm03">https://t.co/oqyxVuIm03</a> <a href="https://t.co/5VVWA7oVE1">pic.twitter.com/5VVWA7oVE1</a>
— Media Lies (@MediasLies) <a href="https://x.com/MediasLies/status/2074260143261290668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Racicot explained that she and Platner had been texting each other on the evening of the alleged assault, and that she must have said something that he had believed to be an invitation. She said she had not meant it that way, but he said he was going to come over. According to Racicot, she said again that he should not come over, and he stopped responding — at which point she believed he had gotten the message.
It was about thirty minutes later that she said he showed up, entered her home through an unlocked door, and got on top of her. Racicot said she told him several times that she was &#8220;not into&#8221; what he was doing, but that he did not listen. She said that as the assault continued, Platner had a blank look in his eyes.
She said that in the struggle, one of them had knocked over a sewing kit that she kept near the couch — and when the contents hit the ground and scattered, that was the moment she began thinking that she should &#8220;comply&#8221; for her own safety.
&#8220;That was me recognizing that this wasn&#8217;t just like oh, hey, somebody showed up and I&#8217;m going to tell him to go home, like he was heavily intoxicated, had intentions with me, and wasn&#8217;t listening when I said no,&#8221; she claimed.
As the assault continued, she said he seemed to be going in and out of moments of lucidity — and even said that he &#8220;would apologize&#8221; before going right back to what he&#8217;d been doing.
Racicot said that once it was over, she sat in her bathroom for quite some time attempting to process what had happened. The hardest thing, she said, was realizing that he had been someone she trusted and had been involved with before, was that it &#8220;was consensual until it wasn&#8217;t.&#8221;
By the time she came out of the bathroom, she said that Platner had fallen asleep in her bed. Realizing that he had driven to her house drunk and not wanting to put him back on the road in that condition, she said she waited until he woke up and told him to leave. He said he did not remember anything that had happened the night before — and Racicot told him that nothing he had done that night had been acceptable, demanding that he leave.
&#8220;He just got up and got dressed and didn&#8217;t seem concerned,&#8221; she said. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t ask me a single question &#8230; How can somebody that you&#8217;ve been in some type of a relationship with for this long tells you to never speak to [them] again because of something that you did and you don&#8217;t even ask what you did?&#8221;
Racicot told Tapper that she had been torn on whether to come forward, in part because she is a Democrat and would like to see a Democrat win the Senate seat in Maine — but that she felt like she couldn&#8217;t stay silent any longer.
&nbsp;

Maine Democratic Candidate For Senate Graham Platner Campaigns Across The State

Platner Accuser Says He Stopped To ‘Apologize,’ Then Raped Her Anyway

Platner Accuser Says He Stopped To 'Apologize,' Then Raped Her Anyway

Jake Tapper

Maine

U.S. Senate

Members of the U.S. Men&#8217;s National Team were quick to celebrate the news that star striker Folarin Balogun would be available for Monday&#8217;s match against Belgium — once they realized the story wasn&#8217;t a fake-out created using Artificial Intelligence.
As The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/05/sports/how-usmnt-players-reacted-to-folarin-balogun-news-on-bus-to-practice/">reported</a>, defender Chris Richards said that the team was heading to Husky Soccer Stadium on the bus when they got the news — and that at first, they were not at all sure what to make of it.
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Chris Richards tells <a href="https://x.com/JennyTaft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JennyTaft</a> the vibes are up for the USMNT after hearing about Flo Balogun&#8217;s suspension being lifted <a href="https://t.co/WeCcD1wATY">pic.twitter.com/WeCcD1wATY</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2073884412228649218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;To be fair, we were lit on the bus regardless. We had our speaker in the back listening to music,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Then one person said something, another person said the same thing and nobody wanted to confirm it. It was pretty much right when we got here that we found out it was true &#8230; a lot of us thought it was AI at first.&#8221;
But then Balogun boarded the bus — all smiles because he&#8217;d already been told that his one-match suspension had been suspended in favor of a probationary period — and it became apparent that he was going to be allowed to play.
Midfield and forward Christian Pulisic also reacted to the good news, saying, &#8220;I just saw a big smile on his face. I got to see him and dap him up after that. Knowing we’re gonna have him around tomorrow, it helps so much. It’s a big boost.&#8221;
Pulisic also noted that the lineup for Monday&#8217;s game against Belgium had not yet been adjusted to accommodate Balogun&#8217;s expected absence, explaining that the team would not be scrambling to rearrange things now that he could play.
&#8220;Of course you have other guys filling in and trying to figure out what the lineup could look like, but we didn’t have anything set. It’s not like some crazy adjustment we need to make,&#8221; he said.
The United States is set to play Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday, July 6.

USA v Paraguay: Group D – FIFA World Cup 2026

U.S. Team ‘Lit’ After Red Card Reversal News: ‘Thought It Was AI At First’

U.S. Team 'Lit' After Red Card Reversal News: 'Thought It Was AI At First'

Donald Trump

FIFA

Soccer

Sports

World Cup

President Donald Trump offered his thanks to FIFA — while Belgian officials fume and vow to evaluate &#8220;all potential options&#8221; — after the organization lifted a one-game suspension for U.S. star-striker Folarin Balogun.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his thanks, saying, &#8220;Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!&#8221;
A White House source confirmed to The Daily Wire that the president had made a call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the red card. Multiple reports suggested that during that call, Trump had informed Infantino that attorneys were preparing to challenge the use of slow-motion instant replay — which he said violated FIFA rules — and that the red card had been excessive.
Outkick founder Clay Travis said sources had told him that &#8220;President Trump, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, and White House task force head Andrew Giuliani put together a team of elite lawyers — from outside the government — to challenge the Flo Balogun red card.&#8221;
&#8220;Specifically they challenged the use of slow motion instant replay to give the red card, which they argued violated FIFA rules. The president also conveyed to Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, that the appeal had been filed and he believed the red card penalty was excessive,&#8221; he added. &#8220;FIFA’s independent committee reviewed the decision and agreed the penalty was incorrectly given, rescinding it under their rule 27 authority.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources: President Trump, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, and White House task force head Andrew Giuliani put together a team of elite lawyers — from outside the government — to challenge the Flo Balogun red card. Specifically they challenged the use of slow motion instant…
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2073851719297945674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The rule in question states that the slow-motion replay is only to be used to determine facts — where players were at the time of the offense or how contact occurred — and not to judge the severity of the offense. That, the rule states, should be determined by a replay at normal speed.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I am not entirely convinced this part of the VAR protocols was followed here. <a href="https://t.co/W3GI2h3gxC">pic.twitter.com/W3GI2h3gxC</a>
— Lars Sivertsen (@larssivertsen) <a href="https://x.com/larssivertsen/status/2072496315913675189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The Royal Belgian Football Association registered its displeasure with the decision in a statement published on Sunday: &#8221;
FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction.&#8221;
&#8220;However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team’s next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup,&#8221; the statement continued.
The precedent was already set at the beginning of World Cup play, when Portugal&#8217;s star player <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/05/sports/the-cristiano-ronaldo-precedent-that-changed-folarin-baloguns-red-card-fortunes/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> had a suspension overturned in favor of a probationary period. Ronald, who was shown a red card and given a three-match suspension last November, only missed one match before FIFA suspended the remaining two-match ban, placing him on probation but allowing him to play in his team&#8217;s opening World Cup match.
The United States is set to play Belgium on Monday, July 6, in the Round of 16.

USA v Bosnia and Herzegovina: Round Of 32 – FIFA World Cup 2026

Trump Thanks FIFA For Reversing ’Great Injustice’ As European Rivals Rage At World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo

White House

The United Arab Emirates made its position very clear over the July Fourth weekend, opting to skip the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei&#8217;s funeral in Iran in favor of a red, white, and blue flyover for America 250 celebrations in New York City.
NBC News showed footage of the flyover, which featured the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Flight Demonstration Team Al Fursan in a tight, seven-plane formation trailing red, white, and blue smoke. They flew alongside the U.S. Navy&#8217;s Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force in a stunning display.
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While some were mourning Khamenei, the UAE was busy celebrating America&#8217;s 250th Independence Day in New York.Those queuing in Iran were nowhere to be seen. In this region, the UAE has proven itself to be the strong, brave, and reliable ally. 
Now you know who the real friend is. <a href="https://t.co/6NJtoxMraO">pic.twitter.com/6NJtoxMraO</a>
— Amjad Taha أمجد طه (@amjadt25) <a href="https://x.com/amjadt25/status/2073722548819464220?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Navy Vice Admiral John Gumbleton described the scene as they flew over Liberty Island in New York Harbor: &#8220;We got the United Arab Emirates Flight Demonstration Team, and they&#8217;re flying the smoke of the red, white, and blue in honor of the nation&#8217;s 250th — and looking quite professional going by.&#8221;
According to several reports, in addition to not sending a delegation to the late Iranian Supreme Leader&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/iran-wants-the-world-to-see-one-thing-at-khameneis-funeral">funeral</a>, the UAE also opted not to send condolences to the regime.
As The Daily Wire previously reported, the funeral is expected to be a massive spectacle designed to draw large crowds and give what is left of the regime legitimacy.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as previously reported, called on citizens “of every ethnicity, religion, preference and political tendency” to attend, adding, “Your widespread presence will be a decisive response to the logic of terrorism, violence, and bullying, and a clear message to the world that the Iranian nation stands united and in solidarity in defending its independence and dignity.&#8221;

New York City Celebrates 4th Of July

UAE Skips Khamenei Funeral, Opts For America 250 Flyover Instead

America 250

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

A red card ban suspension freed star forward Folarin Balogun to play in the U.S. Men&#8217;s National Team&#8217;s next World Cup match against Belgium.
Balogun, 25, was initially supposed to sit out the 16th-round match due to a red card he received in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic. FIFA&#8217;s tournament rules (Article 10.5) state that a one-game suspension would automatically come with the red card — and the team was not allowed to appeal that decision.
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7423410/2026/07/05/usmnt-folarin-balogun-red-card-available/?eafs_enabled=false">The Athletic</a> reported on Sunday that Balogun may yet be allowed to play due to a provision in Article 27 of FIFA&#8217;s disciplinary code — a provision that states &#8220;the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.&#8221;
The one-game suspension that should have accompanied Balogun&#8217;s red card has been suspended — with one caveat: he risks not only the original suspension but also any sanctions that might be added onto that if he commits another similar infraction during the next match.
&#8220;If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement,&#8221; the regulation states.
U.S. Soccer released a statement reacting to the news, saying, &#8220;We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow. Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.&#8221;
Up to the current match, Balogun has started in all but one and has scored at least one goal in each match. He scored twice in the opening game against Paraguay.
Balogun is not the only World Cup star facing disciplinary issues, however. Portugal&#8217;s captain Cristiano Ronaldo was handed a three-match ban, but FIFA suspended the final two games of his suspension.

FIFA Overturns Ban On U.S. Soccer Star In Massive World Cup Boost For America

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey shared his thoughts on America&#8217;s 250th birthday in a recent social media post, saying that the genius of the United States was in the journey, not the destination.
The &#8220;True Detective&#8221; star shared a post on X on Friday, saying that the United States was not about being the &#8220;perfect union,&#8221; but rather about always striving to be a better one. The magic, he said, was not in the fact that America had &#8220;arrived anywhere,&#8221; but should celebrate the fact that &#8220;we&#8217;re still on our way&#8221; to being a little bit better, a little bit brighter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
bets still on the table America, yet. <a href="https://t.co/Ap5Cw3EKRV">pic.twitter.com/Ap5Cw3EKRV</a>
— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) <a href="https://x.com/McConaughey/status/2073013891937034425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Two hundred and fifty years young! Howdy, America,&#8221; McConaughey said, looking straight at the camera. &#8220;To a lot of people, that may seem like a long time to be a country but it&#8217;s really not. But I&#8217;ll tell you what it&#8217;s definitely not too long to be — it&#8217;s not too long to be an idea, which is what America is. A land that has never been — yet.&#8221;
&#8220;And that &#8216;yet&#8217; that we&#8217;re seeking and chasing, that&#8217;s the whole thing,&#8221; he added. &#8220;It&#8217;s a place we&#8217;re never going to arrive at. And that&#8217;s not failure because we won&#8217;t, that&#8217;s by design. Think about it, we didn&#8217;t start this country on any kind of proof. We started it on a belief that was worth fighting for, a wager that was worth betting on. An act of faith that a self-governing people could be something worth being and becoming.&#8221;
Mcconaughey said that if America had learned anything in that 250 years, it was that the bet was still on the table — because the bet was designed to always be on the table: &#8220;We have not cashed in, and let&#8217;s hope we never cash in.&#8221;
Drawing a line between skeptics and cynics, he argued that the former would drive progress while the latter had already given up: &#8220;One cares enough to question, which we should, and the other one&#8217;s already quit. We don&#8217;t need you.&#8221;
The &#8220;best&#8221; of America, he added, was in those who had delivered 250 years of &#8220;showing up&#8221;: 250 years of &#8220;arguing, loving, losing, forgiving, starting over, believing in who we are and what we can be — that&#8217;s the &#8216;yet&#8217; we&#8217;re chasing.&#8221;
&#8220;So, here we are today lighting the fire, breaking the bread, raising a glass to our family and friends, and maybe even the neighbor we don&#8217;t agree with. Today, we&#8217;re going to let the kids run barefoot after dark, baby. That&#8217;s the celebration,&#8221; he concluded. &#8220;Not that we&#8217;ve arrived anywhere, but to the fact we&#8217;re still on our way. Take inventory, with the one in the mirror and together. Here&#8217;s to more dancing in the home of the brave. Happy 250th, America. Just keep living.&#8221;

Matthew McConaughey Opens Wilderness Cabin In Sydney, Australia

Matthew McConaughey: America At 250 Is A Bet That’s ‘Still On The Table’

Matthew McConaughey: America At 250 Is A Bet That's 'Still On The Table'

Fourth of July

Matthew McConaughey

United States

President Donald Trump touted the record-breaking fireworks display prepared for Saturday&#8217;s festivities celebrating America&#8217;s 250th birthday on the National Mall.
&#8220;Best fireworks show, EVER! President DJT,&#8221; he posted via his Truth Social platform after the last of the munitions had been spent.
The 40-minute display included more than 850,000 individual fireworks, breaking the Guiness World Record for the largest fireworks display on record. American military service members provided the soundtrack for the massive spectacle, singing hits like Chicago&#8217;s &#8220;25 or 6 to 4,&#8221; Journey&#8217;s &#8220;Don&#8217;t Stop Believin&#8217;,&#8221; Bon Jovi&#8217;s &#8220;Livin&#8217; on a Prayer,&#8221; the Village People&#8217;s &#8220;Y.M.C.A.,&#8221;  Toby Keith&#8217;s &#8220;Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),&#8221; and Neil Diamond&#8217;s &#8220;Sweet Caroline.&#8221;
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The largest firework show in U.S. history for America’s 250th birthday!!! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/Id0oyS8uLN">pic.twitter.com/Id0oyS8uLN</a>
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://x.com/MargoMartin47/status/2073629242013737274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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🚨 BOOM! THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA IS ALIVE AND WELL!
Washington DC and President Trump just BROKE THE RECORD for most fireworks EVER, and cities nationwide launched their own celebrations on America 250
After weather evacuations, patriots BROKE OUT into Star Spangled Banner before… <a href="https://t.co/MnqtfylDG4">pic.twitter.com/MnqtfylDG4</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2073747253252993264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The 250 fireworks finale! <a href="https://t.co/qbgkLDhHFr">pic.twitter.com/qbgkLDhHFr</a>
— Beverly Hallberg (@BeverlyHallberg) <a href="https://x.com/BeverlyHallberg/status/2073630024586932306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The entire National Mall fireworks show in about a minute, seen from the webcam at the top of the Washington Monument starting with the B1 Lancer flyover. <a href="https://t.co/BY0AlLawBl">pic.twitter.com/BY0AlLawBl</a>
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) <a href="https://x.com/aletweetsnews/status/2073632498760749119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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World War II veterans who were honored during President Trump&#8217;s remarks watched the incredible display from their memorial.
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They left home as boys 8 decades ago to go out and save the world. Last night they sat at the WWII Memorial together and celebrated their country&#8217;s 250th. Still heroic. <a href="https://t.co/RXnOmtMVj7">pic.twitter.com/RXnOmtMVj7</a>
— Jerry Thornton (@jerrythornton) <a href="https://x.com/jerrythornton/status/2073740039574474823?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Throughout the evening, the fireworks and other program events competed with uncooperative weather, as a large thunderstorm blew through the nation&#8217;s capital and even forced a delay in the president&#8217;s remarks.
Lightning lit up the sky behind the Washington Monument as the crowd joined in singing &#8220;Sweet Caroline.&#8221;
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HOLY SH*T:
I just caught the moment lighting strikes near the Washington Monument as &#8220;Sweet Caroline&#8221; plays during the Freedom 250 fireworks in Washington D.C.
God bless America. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/5Q92TgBGST">pic.twitter.com/5Q92TgBGST</a>
— Evan Kilgore 🇺🇸 (@EvanAKilgore) <a href="https://x.com/EvanAKilgore/status/2073628449533468718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Lightning photobombs DC&#8217;s fireworks show.
Remarkable images shared with us by Russell Moy. <a href="https://t.co/fJhYtuYDfk">pic.twitter.com/fJhYtuYDfk</a>
— Capital Weather (@capitalweather) <a href="https://x.com/capitalweather/status/2073765107562135955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Watch: Dramatic lightning strike during DC&#8217;s fireworks Saturday night.
While lightning appears to strike Washington Monument, the bolt actually is behind it.
Video by <a href="https://x.com/AlyssaNegvesky?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlyssaNegvesky</a> <a href="https://t.co/oTVxARQ4oK">pic.twitter.com/oTVxARQ4oK</a>
— Capital Weather (@capitalweather) <a href="https://x.com/capitalweather/status/2073746243860246790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Photo of the night contender from angela n. Stunning shot!!
More lightning + fireworks photos compiled on the site or at the Capital Weather app. <a href="https://t.co/bgPFCIQxOH">pic.twitter.com/bgPFCIQxOH</a>
— Capital Weather (@capitalweather) <a href="https://x.com/capitalweather/status/2073780201260003355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Despite the weather, well over 100,000 spectators gathered on the National Mall to witness the display — and cities all across the United States joined in with their own celebrations.

Local Weather U.S.

Trump Raves About Record-Setting Fireworks Display For America 250

Fireworks

Washington D.C.

President Donald Trump made it clear in his Saturday remarks that he was all in on America as he touted American veterans and trashed communism on the nation&#8217;s 250th birthday.
Hailing the United States as &#8220;the hope, the promise, the light, and the glory among all of the nations of the world,&#8221; Trump called on Americans to be proud of their rich heritage and to defend that vision in the years to come.
Trump spoke late on Saturday night to a massive crowd after thunderstorms forced a delay, saying that the United States had always been — and would always be — the shining example of freedom that others looked to: &#8220;They try and be like us. Nobody can be like us&#8221; &#8230; &#8220;with God&#8217;s help, we can always be this or even better.&#8221;
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.<a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &#8220;For 250 years, the United States of America has been the hope, the promise, the light, and the glory among all of the nations of the world&#8230; with God&#8217;s help, we can always be this or even better&#8230; Here on our National Mall, we&#8217;re celebrating Freedom&#8217;s triumph over… <a href="https://t.co/XbJbC7A9l4">pic.twitter.com/XbJbC7A9l4</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2073609692304097395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Trump proceeded to honor the veterans who served the country over the past 250 years, showing a number of different American flags that flew over different battles throughout the nation&#8217;s history.
He went on to blast communism and those who are trying to bring it to the United States, declaring that the U.S. will never be a communist country.
&#8220;Our warriors did not fight communism on battlefields across the world, only to have that menace rear its ugly head right back here in America. We’re not going to let it happen. All these talks from the communists, they haven’t got a chance &#8230; We don’t want communists in our country. Never worked, and it never will work.&#8221;
&#8220;We like to stop a threat like that immediately,&#8221; he argued, adding that communism was &#8220;like a cancer. You got to cut it out, you got to cut it out fast.&#8221;
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.<a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> recognizes Korean War veterans Cpl. Patrick Finn, and PFC Rudy Meekins, who fought bravely at the Chosin Reservoir while greatly outnumbered by Communist forces.
&#8220;America will NEVER be a Communist country.&#8221; 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/zpZCqvrW7V">pic.twitter.com/zpZCqvrW7V</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2073618602901541200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We have thrived and flourished because our founders were great, our cause was just, our people are brave, our culture is exceptional, and our destiny is written by God. After 250 years, the Spirit of 1776 still lives within us all,&#8221; he concluded.
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.<a href="https://x.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: The world has seen the great empires, vast kingdoms, mighty nations, and terrible tyrants — they came and they went. But after two-and-a-half centuries, this American Republic still stands tall and strong.
This American Flag still waves proud and free and beautiful.
We… <a href="https://t.co/zeSLBND26D">pic.twitter.com/zeSLBND26D</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2073621091998683250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Trump Seeks To Put Himself Center Stage For US Independence Day

Trump Goes All In On America In 250th Birthday Speech: ‘Our Destiny Is Written By God!’

Trump Goes All In On America In 250th Birthday Speech: 'Our Destiny Is Written By God!'

Communism

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Virginia Kruta