Transcript of July 4th Events Curtailed, The Week in Politics, A Funeral For Iran’s Supreme Leader

250 years ago today, a declaration of independence from British rule.

A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

I'm Scott Simon.

I'm Ayesha Rascoe, and this is Up First from NPR News.

Americans celebrate with events in communities all over the country. Last night at Mount Rushmore— 2 years ago, they laughed at us. Now it's only respect. And I want to tell you, the best is yet to come.

If things are going so well, why do the president's former Republican allies want to create a new political party?

And a funeral begins in Tehran for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

So stay with us. We have the news you need to start your weekend.

Fireworks, parades, hot dogs, speeches.

But this year's Fourth of July is complicated by a ferocious heat wave hitting much of the country and is also complicated by the country's deep political and cultural divides.

NPR's Brian Mann joins us. Brian, thanks for being with us.

Happy Independence Day, Scott.

And also to you. Let's, uh, Begin with President Trump, who spoke at Mount Rushmore last night. What did he say?

Well, the speech began pretty traditionally for a Fourth of July weekend address. Trump spoke about what he sees as the exceptional nature of the United States. But then he turned to darker themes, arguing that the American way of life is under attack from immigrants and people on the left.

There is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success.

That was a big part of Trump's speech. He likened what he portrayed as this internal menace to Pearl Harbor and 9/11.

The president's framing of this Fourth of July has been controversial and questioned, right?

That's right. Trump started this by bypassing a bipartisan commission that had been created to celebrate the 250th anniversary. Democrats last week issued a report accusing Trump of hijacking— that was their word— this Independence Day, turning into what they said, what they said should be a moment unity into a partisan event that enriched Trump's allies. NPR did reach out to Freedom 250. That's the group Trump created to organize events for this Fourth of July. A spokesperson, Danielle Alvarez, called the Democrats' accusations categorically false and a partisan smear.

Brian, you've been talking to people on the streets of New York City about how they see the holiday. What do they tell you?

Well, you know, despite all these tensions, people are finding ways to celebrate. I spoke with two friends, Lois Hyman and Linda Sidloskas, who went to a historic tavern here in Lower Manhattan.

We decided to have lunch at Fraunces Tavern because it was where, uh, you know, the rebels used to gather, uh, in the early days of the Revolution, and it's a real revolutionary place, so we wanted to do something revolutionary.

And Sadlowska has told me, Scott, that on this holiday weekend they're celebrating, but they are also worried about the state of the country.

These are the times that try men's souls. So I think that our democracy is being stretched to the limit.

She was, of course, partially quoting Thomas Paine there from his 1776 essay, The American Crisis. I, I do think it's also important to remember, for a lot of folks, the Fourth of July is still just about having fun. As I was out talking to people yesterday, I think my favorite interview was with Logan Longsworth. He's 8 years old from New Jersey, out on holiday with his parents.

How I'm going to be celebrating the 4th of July is I'm going to light some firecrackers and stuff like that. And we also saw the Statue of Liberty.

Can you say a thing that you like about the United States?

The bald eagle.

I love that. I think we can all agree, Scott, bald eagles are pretty cool.

Absolutely the coolest. One other kind of crisis this 4th of July, of course, is the heat. A lot of states are celebrating, but they're trying to keep people safe at the same time. How's that working out?

You know, it's a real mess. Things got so hot yesterday, President Trump's Great American State Fair had to close to the public through the afternoon in Washington, D.C., and Independence Day parade there has been canceled. Philadelphia also canceling parades. Fire risk across the country canceling some fireworks. But there are still some fun things happening. Boston Pops in Boston, big fireworks show in Seattle. But take water along, stay in the shade. People say limit your time outdoors to be safe.

NPR's Brian Mann in New York City. Brian, thanks so much.

Happy holiday to you as well, Scott. Thanks.

Though the founders complained about the summer heat in Philadelphia, it was pleasant there on this day in 1776. Thomas Jefferson recorded 76 degrees at 1 PM before he may be joined by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, took the Declaration of Independence to be printed.

And here's Ron Elving joins us now. Ron, thanks for being with us.

Good to be with you, Scott, and happy Fourth of July.

And happy Fourth to you, my friend. Uh, it's causing many of today's celebrations to be scaled back, uh, for safety's sake. Will America's 250th birthday be tamer, not as multi-partisan than the 1976 bicentennial, which we remember?

The day is young. It's still too early to judge whether this heat dome will hold down the crowd sizes, or shorten tempers, or just put a damper on it all. But to some degree, that might be a good fit for the mood of this holiday, which seems subdued compared to earlier eras. Polls show Americans are less optimistic and somewhat less patriotic than in past years. One measure now shows Americans slightly less patriotic on average than citizens of other countries, and that's quite a departure from the past, and it certainly more downbeat today than 50 years ago. In 1976, when the nightmares of Vietnam and Watergate scandals were finally over and their memories were beginning to recede, the country was ready to move on, ready to believe its best days were still ahead. And yes, Americans were in a mood to party that summer, in big cities like New York and small town parades all over the country.

Supreme Court wrapped up its most recent session this week and released some of their most significant decisions, didn't they?

Oh my, it was quite a package, and it had gut punches for partisans on both sides. Democrats were distressed that the court continued to dismantle restraints on campaign spending, especially those that allow big contributors to coordinate spending with candidates. But it was especially striking to see the shock and dismay on the right over the court's decision upholding birthright citizenship. Now, this has been around back to English common law before the American Revolution. It's been confirmed by the high court more than once, and most legal observers expected it to be upheld once again. And so many were surprised the vote was so close. And that close vote surely lends momentum to the Trump administration's efforts to minimize and even villainize immigration.

Mandatory financial disclosure this week revealed that President Trump made more than $1 billion in his first year back in the White House, considerably more than the year before. Is it only responsible to ask if he has enriched himself in office?

Donald Trump was rich long before he was president, but there was always a lot of debate about just how rich. That debate is now over. Not all presidents have added wealth while in office, but in recent decades, with book deals and speaking fees, it's become easier than ever for a president to cash in, but never on a scale remotely comparable to this, and not with such an array of transactions that would seem to pose a conflict of interest for anyone in the Oval Office.

And former Trump allies Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene say they want to create a new political party. Are we witnessing in 2026 the two-party system splintering as more Republicans question President Trump, MAGA Republicans take on centrists, and recent primary victories have produced more Democratic Socialist candidates in the Democratic Party?

In a word, yes. Both sides are finding it increasingly difficult to enforce party unity, difficult even to appeal to party spirit or plead for party cohesion. The parties can't They control the actions and statements of prominent politicians who want to stand out, who want to be where the voters seem to be. And they know what gets attention. They know what builds a following, especially in the wide-open cyberspaces of social media.

NPR senior contributor Ron Elving. Ron, thanks so very much for being with us. Good holiday to you.

And to you, Scott. Thank you.

It's been 4 months since Iran's Supreme Leader was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes, and now Iran will bury him. Those are the sounds of a huge crowd of people in Tehran who attended the first of a series of ceremonies planned for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral.

Ceremonies and processions across 5 cities are planned. For the days-long funeral. NPR's Hadeel Al-Shalchi is covering this from Istanbul. Hadeel, thanks for being with us.

Good morning, Scott.

What's the day looked like in Iran?

Well, Iranian state media showed a massive crowd of people at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque, which is a large prayer complex in Tehran. People were visiting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's casket, which was draped with the Iranian flag. The caskets of 4 of his killed family members were also there. We saw men and women wearing black. They wept openly. Women slapped their heads with their hands in mourning. Men beat their chests in unison, which is a tradition in Shia funerals. There were also chants of "Death to America" and big red signs that read "Kill Trump." Some people waved flags, red ones that symbolize revenge, and many yellow ones that represented the Iranian-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, which has been fighting with Israel since the beginning of the war. Now, a spokesperson for the funeral preparations said the ceremonies were delayed this long because of, quote, "the war conditions" and what he called the brutal U.S. invasion. But really, Scott, right now This week, the funeral is a way for the Iranian regime to try to show stability and power to Iranians and the rest of the world, sort of sending a message that the Islamic revolutionary power that leads the country is still enjoying popularity.

How about the attendance by world leaders and Iranian officials?

Well, yesterday, a number of official foreign delegations and religious leaders attended a ceremony as Khamenei lay in state. Russia, which has supported Iran during the war, sent former President Dmitry Medvedev, and Pakistani Prime Minister was there. The president of Iraq, was in attendance, as well as the Afghan foreign minister. And even Saudi Arabia, which has been at odds with Iran for decades and where Iran attacked a US military base in March, sent a delegation. There was also a group of officials from Hamas there. Now, on— from the Iranian side, Iran's president, foreign minister, and the speaker of parliament, who's been the head of the ceasefire negotiating team with the US, were all seen praying near the caskets. But so far, there's been no sign of Iran's current leader, Khamenei's son, Mostaba Khamenei, who is in fact yet to be seen in public at all since he took over in March.

But, Nadia, what are Iranians saying about the funeral? Right.

So Khamenei was a divisive figure in Iran. He was supreme leader since 1989, and he oversaw the expansion of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for the killing of at least 10,000 protesters in Iran, according to rights groups. We spoke to a 32-year-old woman whose brother was killed during the protests in January, and she asked NPR not to use her name, fearing the government. She says that even in the Ayatollah's death, he still causes them torment. We also spoke to 33-year-old Fatemeh, who also asked NPR to only use her first name because she was afraid of the government, said she argued with her family all the time, especially her mother, who she says sees Khamenei as part of her religion. She is definitely going to take part in the funeral, Fatemeh says about her mother.

The Ayatollah will be buried Thursday. What else is planned?

Mourners will visit the body over the weekend in Tehran. On Monday, a funeral procession will take the body to the city of Qom. The procession will then cross into Iraq, where he'll be taken to Shia religious sites in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. Finally, he'll be transported back to Iran, where he'll be buried in his birthplace of Mashhad on Thursday. And Iranian officials are saying they expect millions of people to attend.

And Pierre Sadiel Olshalski, thank you.

You're welcome.

And that's Up First for Saturday, the 4th of July, 2026. I'm Scott Simon.

And I'm Ayesha Rascoe. Dave Mistich produced today's podcast along with Gabe O'Connor, Andy Craig, and Michael Radcliffe.

Our editors are Louise Clements, Ed McNulty, Miguel Macias, Jacob Fenston, and Alicia Gray.

Our director is Elena Twork, who worked alongside technical director Jay Sizz. Our engineering support comes from Tom Marchito, Valentina Rodriguez Sanchez, and Tiffany Vera Castro. Proud Patriots all.

And just like the spirit of '76 with the drum and tricorner hat, our senior supervising editor Shannon Rhodes.

In the center on her drum, paradiddling away, it's executive producer Evie Stone.

And fife to the lips, bandage to the head, it's none other than our deputy managing editor Katherine Laidlaw.

Tomorrow on The Sunday Story, division in the land of Lincoln. Fed up with the dominance of Chicago politics, a growing number of Illinois' rural counties want to secede and create a 51st state.

Thank you for listening and for supporting your local NPR station. And if you need to find yours, go to stations.npr.org. Don't let the 250th anniversary of this country distract you from that.

You gotta, you gotta do that. And also stay safe in that heat.

Yeah, stay safe in that heat.

Hydrate, hydrate.

Hydrate. Look out for shade.

Yes.

Sit down, take a nap.

Yes.

And listen to us while you do.

Exactly.