America declared independence in 1776. Yorktown secured it in 1781

For America’s 250th birthday, the Washington Examiner is taking you to Virginia’s Historic Triangle, where the story of our nation began. From the Jamestown settlement, the first permanent English colony in America; to the Yorktown Battlefield, where the fight for independence was won; to Williamsburg, where America’s founding principles were debated and shaped. Step back […]

Inside the security operations for July Fourth celebrations in D.C.

The Fourth of July celebrations in Washington, D.C., are deemed a "national special security event," which is the highest possible designation.

'Chilling': Security expert sounds the alarm as Trump DOJ ramps up election probe

A security expert warned about the impact of Trump's latest move to send hundreds of FBI analysts to Georgia.CNN law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller broke down Trump's decision to send 260 intelligence officials to Georgia to investigate the 2020 election results. Miller said the move is "very concerning," especially as Trump pushes the Save America Act, a voter-proof-of-citizenship law."There is a through line when you combine the idea that he is pushing the SAVE Act and then, on a holiday weekend, calls in hundreds of FBI analysts," Miller said. "When law enforcement comes in and starts doing things like this...it creates this chilling effect towards election workers and others."He explained that Trump called in "staff operations specialists and investigative operations specialists to the Atlanta field office," and "this is the kind of people where it looks like you would be dumping a ton of paperwork, maybe ballots on them."The instructions to these hundreds of FBI analysts could even be to go through the ballots and investigate them "one at a time," Miller added. However, he cautioned that, "if they're doing a recount, that kind of usurps the election authorities of the state."Whether or not they find anything, Miller warned, "You're creating this atmosphere that there's something wrong there, and I can't see these two things being unconnected," again referring to the Save America Act and noting that this "could have been done last week."

New York Republican says Swift, Kelce should pay for police securing wedding

“Our officers are already working overtime for 4th of July festivities & NYC taxpayers should NOT be on the hook."

New York Republican says Swift, Kelce should pay for police securing wedding

New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R) said Thursday that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce should reimburse the New York Police Department (NYPD) for costs imposed by their reported Friday wedding at Madison Square Garden. “Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce should reimburse NYPD for the 130 officers needed per day to keep their multi-million dollar, thousand…

Castro says Air Force confirmed death from flu outbreak at Texas base

The Air Force has confirmed a trainee died as a result of a flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, according to Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas). Keon McDaniel was in his sixth week of basic military training when he experienced a “medical emergency” June 12. He was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center and died there on June…

Markwayne Mullin and Others Slam Tim Walz's Disgusting Pardon of Laotian Child Predator

Trump officials called out for MAGA-themed Social Security cards

On Wednesday, right-wing Fox News reported that the Trump administration is planning a special limited-edition Social Security card that will include the Freedom 250 logo. And a NOTUS reporter is calling out that use of the logo as wildly inappropriate.On X, Fox News reported, "EXCLUSIVE: Babies born during America's 250th birthday celebration will receive a special piece of history. The Social Security Administration is launching a limited-edition commemorative Social Security card featuring the Freedom 250 logo for children born in the U.S. between July 2 and Dec. 31, 2026. According to an announcement exclusively shared with FOX Business, the card functions just like a standard Social Security card, but will serve as a unique keepsake marking the nation's 250th anniversary."But NOTUS reporter Oriana González believes the Freedom 250 logo doesn't belong on government-issued Social Security cards.González, on Thursday, tweeted, "so babies born between July 2 and Dec. 31 of this year will receive a social security card with the logo of a private company."In a separate X post, González had a different criticism of Freedom 250.Linking to a July 1 article by fellow NOTUS journalist Anna Kramer, González wrote, "more from @NOTUSreports on how Freedom 250 is taking taxpayer money that it's not supposed to be receiving."Freedom 250 and America 250 are two different terms. While America 250 refers to the United States' 250th anniversary in general, Freedom 250 is more specific to President Donald Trump and his administration. Freedom 250 refers to the White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday, a public/private partnership Trump created after returning to the White House in January 2025. Trump, on January 29, 2025, was nine days into his second presidency when he signed an executive order that established the partnership. The White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday is separate from the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, which was established in 2016 under then-President Barack Obama.The term America 250 could be used in connection with anniversary celebrations promoted by Democratic or GOP mayors or governors; Freedom 250 has much more of a MAGA/Trumpian connotation.The United States' 250th anniversary is only a few days away. It was on July 4, 1776 that the American Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia's Independence Hall (which was called the Pennsylvania State House at the time).