Good afternoon, everyone. America is facing an energy crisis today as record-breaking temperatures sweep across the country. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America is warning that air conditioning has become a life-saving necessity. At the same time, the nation’s largest power grid ordered emergency electricity reductions after extreme heat, generator outages, overloaded transmission lines, and surging demand pushed the system to the brink.
It all comes as many Americans are asking what exactly they are celebrating during the country’s 250th anniversary. Fewer people are buying fireworks because they simply cannot afford them. They are watching a president put his name and signature on the $100 bill for the first time in history while many families struggle to pay their bills. And in Florida, a public university is reportedly forcing students to record apology videos over anti-ICE protests in order to receive their diplomas.
Meanwhile, people are calling for me to leave the country because of my reporting on the State Fair and America 250 celebrations.
Here’s the deal. I am going to keep focusing on the stories that affect your daily life, not celebrity weddings or manufactured distractions. I am going to keep covering the stories that people in power would rather you ignore. I won’t stop because people get angry. I won’t stop because I know I have you by my side.
Energy crisis & Heat:
The deadly heat wave continues to shatter records across the eastern United States, with Washington, D.C., surpassing a temperature record that had stood since 1872 as officials warn of dangerous conditions through the holiday weekend. The extreme heat has already forced the temporary closure of the Great American State Fair, canceled Philadelphia’s Independence Day parade, strained power grids, and left thousands without electricity in the New York City area. At least one heat-related death has been reported in Pennsylvania, while cities across the region are expanding cooling centers, hydration stations, and emergency medical resources to protect residents and visitors. Climate researchers say the intensity of this heat wave would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change, and forecasters warn dangerous temperatures and humidity will continue through the Fourth of July weekend.
The Air Conditioning Contractors of America is warning that air conditioning has become a life-saving necessity, especially as overnight temperatures remain too warm for people to recover from the daytime heat. The organization says functioning cooling systems are critical not only to prevent heat-related illnesses, but also to keep food from spoiling and preserve temperature-sensitive medications like insulin. HVAC contractors are reporting surging demand as they work to keep cooling systems operating during what officials describe as a major heat emergency.
Yesterday, the Trump administration celebrated that the PJM power grid was relying on fossil fuels instead of renewables, saying it was “keeping our air conditioners blasting.” Today, the nation’s largest power grid ordered emergency electricity reductions after extreme heat, generator outages, overloaded transmission lines, and surging demand pushed the system to the brink, forcing PJM to escalate emergency measures in an effort to prevent widespread blackouts.
The nation's largest power grid operator, PJM, ordered emergency electricity reductions Friday as extreme heat pushed power demand close to a 20-year record. The emergency measures were triggered by a combination of surging air-conditioning use, generator outages, and overloaded transmission lines, with industrial and residential customers enrolled in demand-response programs required to cut electricity consumption. PJM also warned neighboring power grids that electricity exports could be reduced to preserve reserves and prevent blackouts during peak demand. Wholesale electricity prices in parts of the Mid-Atlantic surged above $2,500 per megawatt-hour, compared with roughly $40 under normal conditions, highlighting the strain the prolonged heat wave is placing on the nation's power infrastructure.
Nearly 10,000 Con Edison customers in southwest Queens lost power Friday after extreme heat and surging electricity demand damaged electrical equipment. The utility temporarily shut off service in parts of Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, and South Ozone Park to prevent more widespread outages while crews make repairs. Officials are urging residents to conserve electricity by limiting air conditioning and avoiding unnecessary use of high-energy appliances as New York's power grid remains under strain. Gov. Kathy Hochul said state officials are closely monitoring the grid and coordinating with utilities to prevent additional outages during the heat wave.
The Great American State Fair temporarily shut down Friday afternoon because of dangerous extreme heat in Washington, D.C., with organizers ordering all attendees to leave the National Mall and announcing the event would reopen at 5 p.m. Ground temperatures reportedly reached 135 degrees, while the heat index climbed to around 111 degrees, prompting officials to prioritize public safety. The heat has already disrupted multiple America 250 events, including canceled rodeo demonstrations and restricted access to Fourth of July concert rehearsals. The fair has also faced criticism over low attendance and reports of malfunctioning air conditioning as the extreme weather continues to affect the celebrations.
America 250
Donald Trump shared an image on Truth Social of a $100 bill displaying his signature above Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's, as the administration moves forward with plans to make him the first sitting president in U.S. history to have his signature printed on American paper currency. Treasury officials say the change will be introduced as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations and describe it as recognition of Trump's economic agenda. The move is part of a broader effort to place Trump's name and image on government documents and public landmarks, including commemorative passports, national park passes, and special investment accounts for babies. Meanwhile, some Republicans are also pushing legislation to create a $250 bill featuring Trump's portrait, though current law generally prohibits living individuals from appearing on U.S. currency.
Trump signed the following proclamation for America’s 250th:
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani used a speech marking America’s 250th anniversary to offer a sharp contrast to President Trump’s vision of the country, defending immigration and celebrating diversity without mentioning Trump by name. Speaking from City Hall behind George Washington’s desk and surrounded by recently naturalized U.S. citizens, Mamdani argued that America grows stronger by welcoming newcomers and rejected efforts to define the country by race or background. He framed the nation as an unfinished project that requires continual progress toward its founding ideals, saying every generation has a responsibility to expand freedom and equality. The speech came just hours before Trump was scheduled to deliver his own America 250 address at Mount Rushmore, highlighting two competing visions of patriotism and the nation’s future.
A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration can reinstall new historical panels at the President's House site in Philadelphia that reinterpret how slavery is presented at George Washington's former residence. The panels replace exhibits installed in 2010 that focused on the nine enslaved people who lived and worked in the home while Philadelphia served as the nation's capital. The administration says the new displays still discuss slavery but are intended to align with President Trump's executive order emphasizing America's achievements and avoiding material that it says "disparages" the nation's history. The City of Philadelphia is continuing its legal challenge, arguing the revised exhibits diminish the historical significance of slavery at one of the country's most important historic sites.
A reader in Milan, Tennessee shared photos showing fireworks tents still stocked with large fireworks just before the Fourth of July, despite steep discounts. In previous years, many of these items would have sold out weeks in advance. The tents were largely empty, suggesting fewer families are buying fireworks this year. For many Americans, it's not about celebrating less, it's about being unable to afford a tradition that has become too expensive.
Other news:
Florida International University is reportedly threatening to withhold the diplomas of students who participated in a silent anti-ICE protest during a graduation ceremony. According to the report, some students are being required to record videos about their participation as part of the university’s disciplinary process. Free speech advocates argue that forcing students to create these videos raises serious constitutional concerns and could amount to compelled speech. Constitutional experts cited in the report say punishing students for a peaceful, silent protest may violate the First Amendment. The controversy has intensified scrutiny over how Florida’s public universities are handling political expression on campus.
Trump is privately considering whether to pardon Sean "Diddy" Combs, according to multiple CBS News sources, though no decision has been made. Combs is serving a federal prison sentence of just over four years after being convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, while being acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. Sources say Diddy's case is not expected to be included in the recommendations from the White House pardons team, but Trump has continued discussing the possibility behind the scenes. A White House official told CBS News that "President Trump is the ultimate decider on any clemency related actions."
According to a new financial disclosure, President Trump earned more than $2.2 billion last year, including roughly $1.1 billion from cryptocurrency ventures such as World Liberty Financial and CIC Digital. The Guardian surveyed more than 400 Americans about those earnings, and many respondents described them as evidence of corruption, conflicts of interest, and personal enrichment while in office, contrasting Trump’s growing wealth with Americans struggling to afford groceries, gas, healthcare, and housing. The White House denied any conflicts of interest, while Trump defended the earnings by saying he has “always made money” and that his son Eric manages his businesses. Many respondents also expressed concern that existing ethics laws do not adequately prevent a sitting president and their family from profiting from private business interests while serving in office.
The CDC is investigating a growing outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that causes severe, often “explosive” watery diarrhea, after more than 400 cases were reported across 18 states. The illness spreads through food or water contaminated with human feces, most commonly fresh produce such as basil, cilantro, spinach, and berries, and has resulted in at least 20 hospitalizations, though no deaths have been reported. Michigan has been hit especially hard, with more than 300 cases since late June, while New York has reported more than 100 cases since May. The CDC and FDA are working to identify the source, but officials say there is currently no evidence of a single nationwide outbreak, and they are urging people to thoroughly wash fresh produce, practice good hygiene, and seek medical care if symptoms develop.
More than 120 people aboard the Princess Cruises ship Ruby Princess were sickened in a norovirus outbreak during a 20-day cruise from San Francisco to Canada and Alaska, according to the CDC. The outbreak affected 102 passengers and 23 crew members out of more than 4,100 people on board, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Princess Cruises said it implemented enhanced sanitation measures and planned a full disinfection of the ship before its next voyage. The CDC said this is the seventh reported cruise ship illness outbreak this year, most of them linked to norovirus, and reminded travelers that frequent handwashing with soap and water is the best defense against infection.
An 18-month-old Arizona boy who was pronounced dead after a near-drowning was discovered alive and breathing nearly six hours later in a hospital morgue, prompting multiple investigations. Police have recommended child abuse charges against the boy's parents, alleging they may have been impaired by marijuana and failed to notice he had wandered into the family pool. The hospital conducted an internal review after officers and family members reported the child appeared to gasp for air even after a doctor declared him dead, but it has not released its findings. The toddler survived, has since been released from the hospital, and is expected to require ongoing medical monitoring and therapy, though his family says he avoided severe brain damage.
A Texas man has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly crashing his Tesla into a suburban Houston home while traveling 73 mph, killing a 76-year-old woman. The driver told police the vehicle was operating in Tesla's Full Self-Driving mode and that he passed out after adjusting the music, though Tesla disputes that account and says he manually overrode the system by pressing the accelerator. Investigators found the brakes were not applied in the minute before the crash, and no alcohol or common street drugs were detected in the driver's system. The victim's family has sued Tesla, alleging the company's self-driving technology is defective, while federal safety regulators continue investigating the crash.
Colorado’s Aspen Acres Fire has exploded to nearly 67,000 acres after making an overnight eight-mile run, becoming the ninth-largest wildfire in state history as hot, dry, and windy conditions continue to fuel extreme fire behavior. More than 350 firefighters, aircraft, and Super Scooper planes are battling the blaze, while mandatory evacuations remain in place for several communities southwest of Pueblo and at least 180 structures have already been destroyed. Officials say the fire was human-caused, though the exact cause remains under investigation, and warn that red flag conditions are expected to continue before cooler temperatures and possible monsoonal moisture arrive. The fire is one of several major wildfires burning across Colorado, with crews also working to contain large fires near Dolores, Ouray, Leadville, and Grand Junction.
See you soon.
— Aaron
