{"id":152,"date":"2026-07-05T13:23:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T08:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=152"},"modified":"2026-07-05T13:23:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T08:23:37","slug":"how-trump-took-over-americas-250th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=152","title":{"rendered":"How Trump took over America\u2019s 250th"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><i>With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco and Irie Sentner<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Good Friday morning.<\/b> This is <b>Sophia Cai<\/b>, about to brave the heat to hop on an Amtrak to Philly for the weekend. They\u2019re letting me drive today and we have some fun stuff in store for you. (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.politico.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#780b1b191138081714110c111b17561b1715\" target=\"_blank\">Tell me how you\u2019re spending the Fourth of all Fourths<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p><b><i>In today\u2019s Playbook \u2026<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>\u2014<\/b><\/span><b> Donald Trump<\/b> swooped in to take control of America\u2019s 250th.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>\u2014<\/b><\/span> Inside <b>Melania Trump\u2019s<\/b> ambitious policymaking agenda.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>\u2014<\/b><\/span><b> The Boldfaces: Andrew Giuliani, Markwayne Mullin, Marc Beckman, Ruben Gallego, Ken Burns, Dan Sullivan, Jeremy Lewin, Laura Loomer, Mitch McConnell<\/b> <i>and more.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Tomorrow, America turns 250.<\/b> But the celebration Americans will see isn\u2019t quite the one organizers spent the last decade planning.<\/p>\n<p><b>For nearly 10 years<\/b>, the bipartisan, congressionally chartered America250 envisioned a once-in-a-generation civic commemoration built around history, service and local communities.<\/p>\n<p><b>One America250 planning document<\/b> imagined transforming the tiny Badlands town of Medora, North Dakota \u2014 population roughly 150 \u2014 into a living museum recreating <b>Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s<\/b> frontier experience. It hoped to draw 250,000 visitors for a nationally televised celebration on July 1 featuring A-list performers, immersive historical programming, a drone spectacular and, ultimately, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library\u2019s grand opening.<\/p>\n<p><b>Instead, the opening went on<\/b> this week with President <b>Donald Trump<\/b> \u2014 but without America250.<\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cThe Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library<\/b> was one of America250\u2019s first signed partners and we have been supportive since before its groundbreaking,\u201d an America250 spokesperson told Playbook. \u201cHowever, America250 is not participating in the opening ceremonies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>The spokesperson said America250<\/b> had hoped to support the opening if it received an additional $25 million in federal funding. That money never came.<\/p>\n<p><b>Of the $150 million Congress appropriated<\/b> for America\u2019s 250th festivities, organizers expected to receive roughly $100 million but have received just $25 million to date.<\/p>\n<p><b>Into the void stepped Freedom250,<\/b> the organization aligned with Trump\u2019s White House Task Force 250, which became a principal partner for the library opening. <\/p>\n<p><b>A similar story unfolded<\/b> 1,600 miles away in Washington.<\/p>\n<p><b>The Smithsonian Institution<\/b> had spent years planning a monthlong Folklife Festival on the National Mall \u2014 an ambitious gathering that would have brought together traditions like Burning Man and Farm Aid alongside local and regional festivals from across the U.S. and its territories.<\/p>\n<p><b>Instead, that space on the National Mall<\/b> this month was used for Freedom250\u2019s Great American State Fair, forcing Smithsonian to take the festival nationwide, partnering with more than 40 existing festivals across the country.<\/p>\n<p><b>The juxtaposition reflects<\/b> the reality confronting America250.<\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cOur programming hasn\u2019t changed at all,\u201d<\/b> America250 Chair <b>Rosie Rios<\/b> told Playbook of the consequences of receiving just a quarter of the funding it expected. \u201cThe scale of our programming has changed.\u201d Rios, who has served on the bipartisan commission through the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations, said the organization has stayed faithful to the blueprint commissioners approved years before Trump returned to office.<\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cOur guiding principle<\/b> has always been \u2018no politics, just purpose,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p><b>And much of that blueprint<\/b> is still very much alive. But the biggest visual centerpiece belongs to Trump\u2019s team.<\/p>\n<p><b>Freedom250\u2019s finale<\/b> will be what organizers say is the largest fireworks display in American history with 850,000 firework shells.<\/p>\n<p><b>Pyrotechnico President Rocco Vitale<\/b> told Playbook his company began planning in January. The 40-minute show will stretch more than a mile across Washington, launching simultaneously from eight barges on the Potomac River, West Potomac Park and firing sites running the length of the Reflecting Pool.<\/p>\n<p><b>More than 60 technicians<\/b> have spent the past week assembling the display, using fireworks sourced from the United States, Italy, Spain and Asia. The soundtrack features patriotic crowd favorites like \u201cParty in the U.S.A.\u201d and \u201cCourtesy of the Red, White and Blue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cThe scale of it was such a huge thing<\/b> for all of us to really wrap our heads around,\u201d Vitale said. \u201cOnce we got our heads around it, we were like, \u2018Let\u2019s go do this.\u2019\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/03\/trump-dc-america-250-00986844\" target=\"_blank\"><b><i>Read the full story<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<aside class=\"story-related cl-l db \">\n<div class=\"intext-ad intext-ad--presented  \" style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">\n<p class=\"intext-ad__caption\" style=\"color:#000000\">A message from Amazon:<\/p>\n<div class=\"intext-ad__copy-styles0\">\n<p>Nadine used free skills training to go from packing boxes in an Amazon fulfillment center to building satellites for Amazon Leo. <\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cAmazon paid for all of it and gave me a leg up. They gave me accommodations and my own computer for the first time ever,\u201d she said.<\/b> <\/p>\n<p>More than 700,000 Amazon employees like Nadine have used free skills training to launch new careers. <\/p>\n<p><a style=\"color:#007BC7; text-decoration:underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/ad.doubleclick.net\/ddm\/clk\/644191560;450795006;h;gdpr=${GDPR};gdpr_consent=${GDPR_CONSENT_755}\" target=\"_blank\">Read her story.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p><b>HOW POTUS FOLLOWS THE WORLD CUP: <\/b>Trump has embraced the 2026 World Cup as a showcase event for the United States, despite skipping the early rounds.<\/p>\n<p><b>Instead, he\u2019s received<\/b> regular updates from White House World Cup task force Executive Director <b>Andrew Giuliani<\/b> and DHS Secretary <b>Markwayne Mullin<\/b>. The president is also tracking the tournament through social media, Mullin said this week, asking about games and reacting to viral moments.<\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cHe loves that our visitors<\/b> from all over the world are enjoying what the United States has to say,\u201d Mullin told Playbook from DHS\u2019 Special Events Coordination Center. \u201cI think the one he comments about the most is that one that\u2019s been all over social media, the guy taking his first bite of Texas barbecue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>Trump\u2019s only confirmed<\/b> World Cup appearance will come in the final match at the New York-New Jersey stadium, where he\u2019s expected to present the trophy to the winning team.<b>One hot commodity:<\/b> Trump also has 10 tickets to the final \u2014 a gift from FIFA President <b>Gianni Infantino<\/b>. Two people who visited Trump at sporting events told POLITICO\u2019s <b>Daniel Barnes<\/b> they expect the coveted seats to go to family members and a handful of West Wing aides.<\/p>\n<p><b>Want a ticket?<\/b> You could try Giuliani, who one of the people said has been helpful \u2014 but he may steer you to <a href=\"http:\/\/fifa.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">FIFA.com<\/a> or to White House Cabinet Affairs to adjudicate.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"story-related cl-l db \">  <\/aside>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>FLOTUS FILES:<\/b><\/span> <b>Melania Trump<\/b> has taken a more proactive and tactical approach to her time as first lady during her husband\u2019s second term \u2014 and it\u2019s catching the attention of Republicans and Democrats alike, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/03\/melania-trump-policy-agenda-ukraine-00986390\" target=\"_blank\">POLITICO\u2019s Diana Nerozzi reports<\/a> on Trump\u2019s behind-the-scenes efforts to put her stamp on issues she really cares about.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>In a rare interview, Marc Beckman<\/b>, senior exclusive adviser to the first lady, made the case that Melania\u2019s sparing public profile was intended to up her effectiveness. Her lack of ubiquity, this theory goes, makes the spotlight brighter when she chooses to speak. She\u2019s pursuing \u201cMelania Trump\u2019s playbook,\u201d Beckman said. \u201cShe is looking to achieve more than any first lady before in history.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>EUROPE\u2019S MAKE-UP MISSION:<\/b><\/span> European conservatives are trying to salvage relationships with Trump that took a rocky turn in recent weeks, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/03\/europe-conservatives-white-house-relationship-00986650\" target=\"_blank\">POLITICO\u2019s Daniella Cheslow and Diana Nerozzi report<\/a>. Some 20 center-right members of the EU parliament visited Washington this week for a trip planned well before the dustups, which became an opportunity to mend fences.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>FIRST IN PLAYBOOK \u2014<\/b><\/span><b> Disney adults: <\/b>Sen. <b>Ruben Gallego <\/b>(D-Ariz.) is set to headline a donor retreat at Disneyland later this month \u2014 and he\u2019s bringing his wife and children, according to an invitation obtained by Playbook\u2019s <b>Irie Sentner <\/b>and a person familiar with the arrangements. The \u201cWeekend in Disneyland,\u201d hosted by Rep. <b>Lou Correa<\/b> (D-Calif.), will be held at Disney\u2019s Grand Californian Hotel from July 31 through Aug. 2. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/f\/?id=0000019f-2879-d901-a3bf-aa7d23a10000\" target=\"_blank\"><b><i>See the invitation<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Gallego\u2019s appearance<\/b> comes amid a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/06\/30\/ruben-gallego-doj-investigation-campaign-finance-00981631\" target=\"_blank\">DOJ investigation<\/a> into his use of campaign funds following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/06\/21\/gallego-campaign-donors-travel-00969326\" target=\"_blank\">POLITICO report<\/a> that the Arizona senator used donor dollars to take his family on several trips, including to Disney resorts. Asked to confirm if Gallego\u2019s wife and children would attend \u2014 and, if so, how they would pay \u2014 a Gallego spokesperson referred Playbook to a similar Disney World trip for Republicans planned for September. \u201cSenator Gallego is doing the same,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p><b>Joining Gallego <\/b>at Correa\u2019s event: Reps. <b>Joe Neguse <\/b>(D-Colo.), <b>Joaquin Castro<\/b> (D-Texas), <b>Jason Crow <\/b>(D-Colo.), <b>Laura Friedman<\/b> (D-Calif.), <b>Jimmy Gomez <\/b>(D-Calif.), <b>Adelita Grijalva <\/b>(D-Ariz.), <b>Morgan McGarvey <\/b>(D-Ky.), <b>Raul Ruiz <\/b>(D-Calif.) and <b>Norma Torres<\/b> (D-Calif.), according to the invitation. A spokesperson for Ruiz, <b>Roy Behr<\/b>, called the trip \u201ca routine family-friendly event in support of Rep. Correa\u2019s campaign,\u201d which Behr said would pay for Ruiz\u2019s room \u201cas is customary for a guest.\u201d He added: \u201cRep. Ruiz is bringing his wife and young children, who are staying in the same room as him at no additional expense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>Grijalva \u201cis paying for her travel <\/b>out of her personal funds and her husband and three kids are joining her for a family vacation,\u201d said her comms director, <b>Nate Sigal<\/b>, who added, \u201cNo campaign funds will be used.\u201d An aide for Neguse could not confirm whether he would attend the getaway, but told Playbook travel expenses for any family wouldn\u2019t be paid by his campaign. A representative for Castro told Playbook he\u2019s not attending and didn\u2019t explain why he\u2019s listed on the invitation. Spokespeople for the other lawmakers didn\u2019t respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>LISTEN TO THIS:<\/b><\/span> Dasha sat down with documentary filmmaker and historian <b>Ken Burns<\/b> for this week\u2019s episode of \u201cThe Conversation\u201d to discuss what lawmakers misunderstand about the founding of our nation, whether the American experiment can survive and if Trump\u2019s efforts to physically cement his legacy have any historical precedent.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>\u201cThe need for a monument to yourself<\/b> before you\u2019ve done anything is an insecurity,\u201d he told Dasha. \u201cAnd the historical antecedents are all with dictators and emperors and things like that who build monuments to themselves because they see themselves as the state. You know, <b>Louis XIV<\/b> famously said, \u2018L\u2019\u00e9tat, c\u2019est moi\u2019 \u2014 \u2018The state is me.\u2019 \u2026 That\u2019s not the democratic ideal.\u201d <b><i>Listen and subscribe on <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/can-the-american-experiment-survive-with-ken-burns\/id1111319839?i=1000775136974\"><b><i>Apple<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> or <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/18PZqFWP93xSWG9ofYKSdh?si=27f2b197f18a4f19\"><b><i>Spotify<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<aside class=\"story-related cl-l db \">  <\/aside>\n<p><b>1. FED UP: <\/b>The Supreme Court\u2019s <b>Lisa Cook <\/b>ruling wasn\u2019t the end of the saga. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-07-02\/trump-allies-double-down-on-efforts-to-reshape-federal-reserve\" target=\"_blank\">Bloomberg\u2019s Saleha Mohsin and Joshua Green scooped<\/a> that senior administration officials and outside allies are trying to figure out how to remove Cook and <b>Jerome Powell <\/b>from the Fed to install Trump picks \u2014 using the high court\u2019s decision as a road map. They\u2019re also eyeing the open Atlanta Fed presidency to make an impact. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/07\/02\/donald-trump-interview-live-updates.html\" target=\"_blank\">Trump told CNBC<\/a> yesterday he\u2019s still intent on firing Cook.<\/p>\n<p><b>2. IMMIGRATION FILES: <\/b>A federal appellate court handed a major win to ICE detainees in litigation over the administration\u2019s mass detention policy, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/02\/appeals-court-texas-limits-ice-detention-00986586\" target=\"_blank\">per POLITICO\u2019s Kyle Cheney<\/a>. In a 2-1 ruling, judges said detainees must get a bond hearing in 90 days to be given due process rights, noting the vast majority are non-criminals and longtime residents. But the administration is charging forward with expanded enforcement at workplaces, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/07\/02\/politics\/worksite-immigration-enforcement-raids-trump\" target=\"_blank\">CNN\u2019s Priscilla Alvarez scooped<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>3. WHAT\u2019S IN A NAME: Dan J. Sullivan <\/b>made it onto the Alaska Senate ballot, but now the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office and state AG are investigating whether multiple people engaged in a conspiracy to confuse voters about incumbent GOP Sen. <b>Dan Sullivan, <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-election\/dan-sullivan-saga-alaska-senate-race-investigation-sources-say-rcna352679\" target=\"_blank\">NBC\u2019s Julia Ainsley and Bridget Bowman scooped<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>4. ALL IN THE FAMILY: <\/b>A new proposed ATF rule could make online gun purchases explode, letting dealers send guns directly to consumers without going to an in-person store. The direct shipping could also be a huge boost for GrabAGun, the \u201cAmazon of guns\u201d that counts <b>Donald Trump Jr. <\/b>among its board members, <a href=\"http:\/\/reuters.com\/legal\/government\/trump-jrs-amazon-guns-could-make-millions-under-new-proposed-firearm-rule-2026-07-02\/\" target=\"_blank\">Reuters\u2019 Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>5. FOR PETE\u2019S SAKE: <\/b>WSJ\u2019s Yoko Kubota and colleagues <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/national-security\/hegseth-prepared-a-bombshell-plan-to-cut-troops-in-europe-then-it-got-nixed-cbb87e75\" target=\"_blank\">unravel the backstory<\/a> of what happened with the U.S.\u2019 shifting approach to military cuts in Europe. Defense Secretary <b>Pete Hegseth <\/b>was ready to tell NATO in June that the administration was preparing even deeper cuts to its forces on the continent. But after national security adviser <b>Marco Rubio <\/b>and other top officials saw the plan, it got axed and downgraded to a force posture review.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>THE WEEKEND AHEAD<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>SUNDAY SO FAR \u2026<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>FOX<\/b><\/span><b> \u201cFox News Sunday\u201d: <\/b>Speaker Mike Johnson \u2026 Maryland Gov. Wes Moore \u2026 Butch Wilmore \u2026 Victor Davis Hanson. <b>Panel:<\/b> Mark Bednar, Stef Kight, Leslie Marshall and Karl Rove.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>CNN<\/b><\/span><b> \u201cState of the Union\u201d: <\/b>Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro \u2026 Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. <b>Panel: <\/b>Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Xochitl Hinojosa, Shermichael Singleton and Jamal Simmons.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>MS NOW<\/b><\/span><b> \u201cPoliticsNation\u201d:<\/b> Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) \u2026 Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar \u2026 Colorado AG Phil Weiser \u2026 Mandela Barnes \u2026 Kelley Robinson.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>CBS<\/b><\/span><b> \u201cFace the Nation\u201d: <\/b>NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman \u2026 Debra Houry \u2026 Charlie Baker \u2026 Reps. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) and Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.).<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>NBC<\/b><\/span><b> \u201cMeet the Press,\u201d <\/b>with an America 250 special edition: Ken Burns \u2026 Doris Kearns Goodwin \u2026 Lonnie Bunch.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>PBS<\/b><\/span><b> \u201cCompass Points,\u201d <\/b>with a focus on America\u2019s foreign policy at 250: Esther Brimmer \u2026 Michael Mandelbaum \u2026 Robert Zoellick.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#b70000;font-weight:bold;font-family:sans-serif;\"><b>ABC<\/b><\/span><b> \u201cThis Week\u201d: Panel: <\/b>Donna Brazile, Chris Christie, Maggie Haberman and Doug Heye.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"story-related cl-l db \">\n<div class=\"intext-ad intext-ad--presented  \" style=\"background-color:#FFFFFF\">\n<p class=\"intext-ad__caption\" style=\"color:#000000\">A message from Amazon:<\/p>\n<div class=\"intext-ad__copy-styles3\">\n<p><b>More than 700,000 Amazon employees globally have used free skills training to launch new careers.<\/b> <\/p>\n<p>Nadine used Amazon Career Choice to become a satellite technician, turning a job working nights in an Amazon fulfillment center into a new career. <\/p>\n<p><a style=\"color:#007BC7; text-decoration:underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/ad.doubleclick.net\/ddm\/clk\/644163507;450794955;t;gdpr=${GDPR};gdpr_consent=${GDPR_CONSENT_755}\" target=\"_blank\">See the impact.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p><b>DOGE TROUBLES \u2014<\/b> Former DOGE official <b>Jeremy Lewin<\/b> is staying at the State Department after he was expected to transition Monday to the National Security Council as deputy assistant to the president. Conservative activist <b>Laura Loomer<\/b> launched a public campaign questioning his loyalty over his past work for liberal constitutional scholar <b>Laurence Tribe<\/b> and comments celebrating <b>Joe Biden\u2019s<\/b> 2020 victory over Trump.<\/p>\n<p><b>Deputy National Security Adviser Mike Needham<\/b> called Lewin \u201ca tremendous fighter for the President\u2019s agenda\u201d who worked to transform foreign aid into a system advancing \u201cAmerica First objectives.\u201d VP <b>JD Vance\u2019s<\/b> chief of staff, <b>Jacob Reses,<\/b> called him \u201can invaluable asset to the Trump Administration in the fight against the deep state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>A senior administration official<\/b> last night added that Lewin frustrated OMB leadership over U.N. funding decisions, waivers related to pro-life and anti-DEI policies, and a dispute surrounding nearly $20 billion in USAID closeout costs. \u201cNot true,\u201d said <b>Eric Ueland,<\/b> OMB\u2019s deputy director for management who\u2019s also leading USAID\u2019s shuttering. \u201cJeremy is a critical part of closing out USAID and we have worked closely together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>UP IN SMOKE \u2014 <\/b>Trump\u2019s Independence Day fireworks could set a Guinness world record and spike pollution in D.C., <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/03\/trump-fireworks-pollution-nps-00983635\" target=\"_blank\">POLITICO\u2019s Alex Guill\u00e9n and colleagues report<\/a>. Airborne soot and heavy metals will likely leap, though the dirty air will dissipate quickly. \u2026 Sold-out tickets to watch from the Kennedy Center roof terrace went for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kennedy-center.org\/whats-on\/special-programming\/fireworks-on-the-fourth\/\" target=\"_blank\">up to $25,000 for 36 guests<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>HEALTH UPDATE \u2014 <\/b>Sen. <b>Mitch McConnell <\/b>(R-Ky.) is still hospitalized after two and a half weeks, his office said yesterday. He \u201ccontinues to improve,\u201d the statement reported, but they haven\u2019t specified what\u2019s wrong. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2026\/07\/02\/congress\/mcconnell-remains-hospitalized-00986648\" target=\"_blank\"><b><i>More from POLITICO\u2019s Aaron Pellish<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>PIRRO JUMPS IN THE POOL \u2014 <\/b>Former Olympian <b>David Hearn <\/b>was indicted on a felony destruction of property charge at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/02\/former-olympian-indicted-reflecting-pool-00986360\" target=\"_blank\">per POLITICO\u2019s Gregory Svirnovskiy<\/a>. Federal prosecutors allege he ripped up sealant from the bottom; he claims he merely touched the water.<\/p>\n<p><b>FORE! \u2014 <\/b>The Trump administration\u2019s effort to redevelop the East Potomac Golf Course collided with a skeptical federal judge, who pressed the government for details, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/07\/02\/us\/politics\/trump-golf-course-plans-doj.html\" target=\"_blank\">NYT\u2019s Zach Montague reports<\/a>. <b>Ana Reyes <\/b>said the administration\u2019s court claims seemed to contradict reality, and she\u2019s \u201cnot sure that the presumption of regularity\u201d \u2014 assuming the government tells the truth \u2014 \u201capplies anymore.\u201d Reyes also sounded uncertain about whether the plans could be stopped.<\/p>\n<p><b>HISTORY LESSON \u2014 <\/b>A federal appeals court blocked a judge\u2019s order to force the Trump administration to replace national park exhibits on sensitive historical subjects like slavery, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/trump-administration-can-avoid-reinstalling-exhibits-slavery-climate-parks-us-2026-07-02\/\" target=\"_blank\">per Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>OUT AND ABOUT \u2014 SPOTTED <\/b>at a birthday and retirement party for Rep. <b>Dan Newhouse <\/b>(R-Wash.), hosted by S-3 Group: Speaker <b>Mike Johnson<\/b>, Reps. <b>Russ Fulcher<\/b> (R-Idaho), <b>Rick Larsen<\/b> (D-Wash.), <b>Adrian Smith<\/b> (R-Neb.), <b>Celeste Maloy<\/b> (R-Utah), <b>Mike Turner<\/b> (R-Ohio), <b>Glenn \u201cG.T.\u201d Thompson<\/b> (R-Pa.), <b>Steny Hoyer<\/b> (D-Md.), <b>David Rouzer<\/b> (R-N.C.) and <b>Kim Schrier<\/b> (D-Wash.), <b>Andrew Wheeler, Jessica Carter, Todd Willens, John Scofield, Martin Delgado, Dennis Nalls, Jim Richards, Joan Galvin, Tom Albert, R.J. Layher, Brian Rell, Mike Riith, Shana Chandler, Sally McAllister, Phil Hardy, Matt Gall and Carrie Meadows.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2014 <\/b>Uber CEO <b>Dara Khosrowshahi <\/b>hosted an America 250 celebration featuring a concert by <b>Keith Urban<\/b> at the Smithsonian American Art Museum\u2019s Kogod Courtyard last night. <b>SPOTTED: <\/b>Transportation Secretary <b>Sean Duffy,<\/b> Education Secretary <b>Linda McMahon<\/b>, VA Secretary <b>Doug Collins,<\/b> CMS Administrator <b>Mehmet Oz <\/b>and <b>Seval Oz<\/b>, <b>Chris Klomp,<\/b> <b>Jill Hazelbaker Franks<\/b>, Reps. <b>Jason Smith <\/b>(R-Mo.), <b>Kevin Kiley<\/b> (I-Calif.) and <b>Bob Onder <\/b>(R-Mo.), <b>Rachel Holt<\/b>, <b>Alex Flemister<\/b>, <b>Jimmy Sapp<\/b>, <b>Javier Correoso<\/b>, <b>Spencer Silverman<\/b>, <b>Kristin Sharp,<\/b> <b>Julie <\/b>and <b>Chad Sweet<\/b>, <b>Rene Haas<\/b>, <b>Alberto Martinez<\/b>, <b>Matt Gorman<\/b>, <b>Katelyn Bledsoe<\/b>, <b>Arun Gupta<\/b>, <b>Brittany Punaro<\/b>, <b>Josh Dawsey<\/b>, <b>Marisa Schultz,<\/b> <b>Ted Johnson<\/b>, <b>Dan Meyers<\/b>, <b>James Van Den Berg<\/b>, <b>Kaily Grabemann,<\/b> <b>Sumi<\/b> <b>Somaskanda<\/b>, <b>Aaron Lukas<\/b>, <b>Liz Claman<\/b>, <b>Rick Klein<\/b>, <b>Christine Brennan<\/b>, <b>Colin Moneymaker<\/b> and <b>Steve Clemons<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p><b>MEDIA MOVE \u2014 Isabelle Kravis <\/b>is now a newsletter editor at POLITICO. She previously worked at Bloomberg Industry Group.<\/p>\n<p><b>TRANSITION \u2014 Kailyn Ward<\/b> is now principal deputy assistant secretary for comms at the Education Department. She previously worked at Forbes Tate Partners.<\/p>\n<p><b>HAPPY BIRTHDAY: <\/b>Rep. <b>Glenn Grothman<\/b> (R-Wis.) \u2026 <b>Julian Assange<\/b> \u2026 <b>Kristen Morgante <\/b>of Purple Strategies \u2026 <b>Andrew Peek<\/b> \u2026 <b>Peter Sherman<\/b> of DDC Public Affairs \u2026 <b>Nick Baldick<\/b> of Hilltop Public Solutions \u2026 AFP\u2019s <b>Shaun Tandon<\/b> \u2026 POLITICO\u2019s <b>Heidi Vogt <\/b>and <b>Will McCarthy <\/b>\u2026<b> Rina Shah<\/b> \u2026 Washington Examiner\u2019s <b>Naomi Lim<\/b> \u2026 former Sen. <b>Lamar Alexander<\/b> (R-Tenn.) \u2026 <b>Adam Goldberg<\/b> \u2026 Giffords\u2019 <b>Mary Yatrousis <\/b>\u2026 <b>Gloria Allred <\/b>\u2026 <b>Elise Joshi<\/b> \u2026 <b>Barbara Lee<\/b> \u2026 <b>Don \u201cStew\u201d Stewart <\/b>\u2026 <b>Lindy Royce-Bartlett <\/b>\u2026 <b>Julia Griffin <\/b>\u2026 <b>Rick Powell <\/b>\u2026 Meta\u2019s <b>Brad Weltman <\/b>\u2026 Greater Washington Partnership\u2019s <b>Tom Shaw<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>Send Playbookers tips to <\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.politico.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#daaab6bba3b8b5b5b19aaab5b6b3aeb3b9b5f4b9b5b7\" target=\"_blank\"><i><span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"11617d7068737e7e7a51617e7d786578727e3f727e7c\">[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/i><\/a><i> or <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/signal.me\/#eu\/Y_J-vxijzCPSLbXEtVrVH0ZLVZVBqr8iBbfikL2lBrl5QgVVODxM47rLk6iFu6EM\" target=\"_blank\"><i>text us on Signal here<\/i><\/a><i>. Playbook couldn\u2019t happen without our editor <\/i><b><i>Giuseppe Macri<\/i><\/b><i> and deputy editor <\/i><b><i>Garrett Ross<\/i><\/b><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<ul class=\"twitter-authors\">\n<div class=\"twitter-authors__content\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.politico.com\/hosted\/icon_x_gray.png\" class=\"twitter-authors__icon\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco and Irie Sentner Good Friday morning. This is Sophia Cai, about to brave the heat to hop on an Amtrak to Philly for the weekend. They\u2019re letting me drive today and we have some fun stuff in store for you. (Tell me how you\u2019re spending the Fourth of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":153,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.politico.com\/dc\/2c\/da5f537a473394c9a45d8f20fad6\/https-delivery-gettyimages.com\/downloads\/2283661779","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=152"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}