“Fox News is the lone major channel planning substantial live coverage of the speech.”

“Trump insisted the weather ‘isn’t as bad as predicted’ and assured he’ll be speaking outside the Lincoln Memorial Saturday evening at 10 p.m. local time.”

Mediaite: Trump crows about July 4th crowds — after dismal attendance at Great American State Fair.

“In a new filing, the president’s attorney said that since his former lead counsel, Justin Smith, took up a position as a federal judge last month (a post he was nominated to by Trump), his new lead counsel, Josh Halpern, needed more time ‘to become completely familiar with the facts and procedural circumstances’ of the case.”

“President Trump used July 4 to mock the Democratic Party and assail his political opponents as ‘evil,’ while Democrats seen as potential 2028 presidential candidates responded with speeches that cast his presidency as a betrayal of American ideals.”

“Fewer and fewer places feel safe inside Russia, as oil facilities, weapons factories, convoys and bombers burn.”

“Driving the news: Russia is facing fuel shortages due to repeated refinery strikes, at least one of which sent Muscovites scrambling for cover amid explosions and ‘black rain.'”

— Former President Bill Clinton, quoted by Deadline, in his July 4th message.

Said Trump: “We get along very good. He knows who the boss is.”

New York Post: Trump, Netanyahu speak on phone, agree to meet soon.

And 46% said they did not know what the day commemorated, including 61% of Gen Z respondents.

“Since winning the 2024 election, Trump has operated in a Wild West of his own making — monetizing the office to the tune of billions, while enabling family, friends and donors to cash in along the way.”

“He and the White House have denied any conflicts of interest. Republicans, who spent years investigating the Biden family’s business dealings, have shielded Trump from the same scrutiny.”

“But Democrats see the presidential gold rush as corruption personified — and plan to bury Trump’s orbit in subpoenas if they win the House in November’s midterms.”

The Guardian: Democrats will have “field day” with Trump inquiries if they win House, legal experts say.

— Hunter Biden, in an interview with Wired.

“An intelligence official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to potential reprisal, told MS NOW that the individuals being removed by the Trump administration are officials ‘who they believe are deep state.’ Intelligence leadership alleges that the fired workers have not provided complete pictures of available intelligence.”

CNBC: Acting DNI Pulte fires dozens of intelligence officials.

“Trump has made no secret of his joy at presiding over the July 4 festivities, portraying the timing as a side benefit of winning a second term starting in 2025 — even as the Republican falsely claims he also won the previous election against Democrat Joe Biden.”

“Four months later, however, as Iran stages a belated state funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the burial rites testify instead to the Islamic republic’s survival and mark the ascendance of a new generation of leaders that is more entrenched and hard-line.”

“It’s not even close, by almost every empirical measure. We live longer, better, richer, healthier and freer than those before us.”

“Yes, we screw a lot up. Always have. Always will. But nothing bothers me more than the widespread pessimism and plummeting patriotism — when it should be a time of great hope and possibility.”

“To me, that yawning gap between our reality and how people feel about it is among the biggest macro issues facing us.”

“Voters are turning to new AI tools to serve as nonpartisan researchers, viewing them as a viable alternative to traditional news coverage, voter guides or social media. They provide an appealing and seemingly efficient way to learn about campaigns and ballot measures, allowing users to bypass the sometimes dizzying array of political literature, advertising and commentary coming their way. But some experts warn that the tools are far from foolproof: The results they produce can be marred by factual errors or shaped by flawed assumptions.”

“Especially President Donald Trump, whose understanding of reality seems to be based on snippets he once heard and wishes were true. Regime Change, an account of his second term by two New York Times journalists, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, brims with examples.”

“For these consiglieri, business is booming. Last year more than 140,000 millionaires migrated, the most on record, reckons New World Wealth, a research firm; this year it expects the figure to rise to 165,000.”

“Across volatile regions, some critical infrastructure, like desalination plants and data centers, will need to be fortified with layers of reinforced concrete, duplicated to provide backups or potentially relocated underground—at significant cost. Arguments are already brewing between companies and governments over new regulations and potential costs.”