NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 02)

Welcome to NTD Evening News. Our top story tonight, the U.S. jobs market making slower but steady gains. The White House tells NTD what the administration's economic policies are accomplishing, what they mean for Americans, and how today's new job numbers could impact an upcoming interest rate decision. U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn charged with a felony for destruction to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Find out what witnesses say they saw him New York City's Central Park hits 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Mayor Zoran Mamdani asking residents to keep their thermostats at 78 degrees amid concerns over the power grid. However, some officials are calling his request socialism. Jason Perry has the details. A miracle rescue in Venezuela. A security guard pulled alive from the rubble after he spent eight days trapped beneath a collapsed shopping center. The emotional moment and the message he wanted delivered to his wife. And as we approach America's 250th birthday, millions expected to travel. We'll tell you what every traveler needs to know before they head out this holiday weekend. Now Rushmore preparing for Independence Day with workers racing to complete final preparations for America 250 celebrations. And President Trump will give remarks on Friday. This is MTV Evening News live from our global headquarters in New York City. Here's Kerry Dunst. Good evening. Thank you for joining us tonight. U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn was indicted today on a felony charge of destruction of property. He was arrested around two weeks ago for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Today is about accountability for damaging a national resource, a national treasure. And that is the reflecting pool that runs from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, which is, of course, a symbol of D.C.'s beauty and history. Now, it was recently renovated with significant funds and investments. Any tampering undermines that. And make no mistake, if anyone decides they want to damage that, whatever they think their reason is or whether they think it's justified or whether they think it's not important, will be held to account. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said National Park Service employees observed Hearn, quote, forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands. Witnesses said he damaged approximately two square feet of sealant. A park employee told him to stop and which he shouted at the employee in a belligerent, rude and disrespectful manner. Hearn denies that he caused the damage and he said he reached into the water to touch a piece of sealant that was already floating. Hearn is accused of causing over $1,000 worth of damage and he faces 10 years in prison if he's convicted. And after spending eight days trapped beneath a collapsed shopping center, a Venezuelan security guard has been rescued alive. Video footage shows a rescue team pulling him from the rubble. Rescuers carried Hernan Alberto Gil Flores, the man you see there on the stretcher, through crowds of people into a Red Cross ambulance. The 43-year-old had been trapped since June 24th beneath the Gallerias Playa Grande shopping center. That's about 30 minutes from Caracas. Rescuers first made contact with him over the weekend. They kept him alive by delivering food and water through tubing and they said one of his first requests was, quote, tell my wife not to worry. His security booth also created a small air pocket which helped him to survive. The twin earthquakes measured 7.2 and then 7.5 in magnitude, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring more than 11,000. Search crews are still racing to find survivors among thousands who remain missing. And tonight, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson shares the inside story of the U.S. response in Venezuela's earthquake. What's important to note is also who's not there. I mean, we've seen that China is nowhere to be found. Russia is nowhere to be found. The United States has devoted $300 million to this response and China has given only about $18 million. And they have about six people on the ground, while we have over 1,000 people on the ground. So I think it sends a very clear message of what it means to be an ally of the United States. And the best of America really is on display in Venezuela right now. Catch the full interview on Capitol Report with Steve Lance tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern, just after evening news. At least 21 civilians in Kiev are dead in one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine's capital since the start of the war. President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling on the U.S. to speed up the peace negotiations with Russia. NDD's international correspondent Arian Pasdar brings us the latest. Emergency crews in Kiev are digging through the rubble of collapsed apartment buildings in search of victims on Thursday. Russia launched a drone and missile attack that lasted for 11 hours. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia launched more than 70 missiles of various types at Ukraine, nearly half of which were ballistic, and nearly 500 drone strikes. Supplying air defense systems to Ukraine is an absolutely top priority. At least 21 civilians are reported dead and many more injured. Drone footage shows parts of Kiev completely destroyed. On a more positive note, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine pulling a survivor out of the rubble as rescue work continues. Zelensky is now calling on the U.S. to speed up the peace negotiations with Russia. They have to come to see, to understand and to explain to the President and then to answer in a very polite manner how Steve Bidkoff can to Russia what they have to do. Quickly sit, negotiate, stop this war. Zelensky is also seeking for the U.S. to speed up the sale of air defense systems to Ukraine. Well, the most important, of course, we're asking President Trump, his team, yes, Russia. That's only one thing. And we don't need, you know, too much words. You see what does it mean when the packages come to Ukraine slowly. Russia says its attacks come in response to Ukraine, which in recent weeks launched multiple long-range strikes against Moscow and other cities. Ukraine targeted oil refineries, causing fuel shortages in part of Russia. A number of foreign diplomats visiting the scenes of destruction on Thursday afternoon, such as the ambassador from the U.K. Last night's attacks were particularly bad, I think, both in terms of the scale and the duration. I read somewhere that I think 50,000 people in Kiev spent the night in a shelter, which is more than usual. The head of the U.S. embassy in Kiev saying across Ukraine, communities are caring for the wounded, mourning those lost and finding their strength to face another day. Arian Pasdar, NTD News. Hiring in June slowed from the torrid pace it saw in the spring, but the stable growth still shows the resilience of the labor market. The White House telling NTD how the big beautiful bill, which is turning one year old this weekend, has been delivering for Americans. NTD's White House correspondent Iris Tao has more from the North Lawn. The Labor Department on Thursday says that a U.S. economy added 57,000 jobs in June, about half of what economists had predicted. But it also marks the fourth straight month of gains, thus as unemployment rates fell slightly to 4.2 percent, signaling that the labor market remains on steady footing even as the pace of hiring slows down. The White House says the new numbers show resilience of the labor market. You know, I think that if you smooth through the ups and downs over the last three or four months, we're on a really steep upward trajectory. Meantime, a cooler reading on payrolls could mean the Federal Reserve now has less reason to hike rates later this month. And President Trump on Thursday saying this. In the old days, we would be, that's how we built the country. Now you announce positive things and they want to bring it down by raising interest rates. And it shouldn't be that way. It should go back to the way it was. Meanwhile, the one big beautiful bill, the signature legislation pushed by President Trump, is now turning one this weekend on July 4th. NTD asked Kevin Hassett what major changes it has brought for Americans. Don't have to pay tax on tips. Don't have to pay tax on overtime. Don't have to pay tax on the Social Security to work harder, make more money and keep money that we saw in the tax return data that the typical benefit across all three was maybe six, $7,000 per person. President Trump on Friday also touting new investments in Trump accounts, saying that Micron announced that they're now putting in $250 million into the Trump accounts for children. Americans can start officially contributing to the tax deferred investment accounts for their children starting July 4th. Hassett tells NTD that the president will be talking a lot about that official launch of Trump accounts this weekend. Reporting from the White House, Iris Tao, NTD News. The peak of a dangerous heat wave hits today and tomorrow as the hottest air moves into the mid-Atlantic and East Coast just before the holiday weekend. It's setting the stage for dozens of temperature records to fall. This afternoon, a triple-digit reading of 100 degrees was recorded in New York City's Central Park. That tied the high temperature record for this date way back all the way to 1966. The heat alert map across the nation includes advisories and warnings. Temperatures from the low 90s to low 100s could be recorded from Washington, D.C. to Boston and elsewhere. The heat index, those, quote, feel like temperatures when factoring in the in some spots. Now, the National Weather Service has more than 160 million Americans under either major or extreme heat risks through the rest of the week. Several cities are opening cooling centers, and that includes Philadelphia, where Saturday's July 4th parade will be shortened due to the heat. And heat is also impacting some major airline operations. Delta is alerting that it expects its operations to, from, and through New York's LaGuardia Airport to be affected by the heat. The airline is asking customers to first check their flight status before they head to the airport, check it frequently, and enable notifications on your phone. Next, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani asking residents to set their thermostats to 78 degrees to prevent possible power outages in the city. But some public officials are calling that request socialism. And today's Jason Perry takes a closer look. New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani advising New York City residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees to help save the electric grid. In a recent post on X, Mamdani also asking residents to turn off lights and electronics that aren't being used, adding that if residents follow the recommendations, then the power grid stays on and so does the A.C. and lives are saved. But this isn't something new. The recommendation for New Yorkers to set their A.C.s to 78 degrees has been going on for the past 20 years. In 2007, Con Edison, the city's main electric company, made the precautionary request in order to prevent blackouts during hot temperatures, which could be disastrous and life-threatening for New York City. For example, a study published in the journal Epidemiology said an electricity blackout in the United States, which included New York City and Canada in the summer of 2003, led to the deaths of nearly 100 people. Prior to Mamdani, the same request for New York City residents to set thermostats no lower than 78 degrees was also made under former New York City mayors Eric Adams, Bill de Blasio, and even former New York City mayor and Republican Rudy Giuliani in 1998. However, Mamdani has been getting crushed with backlash from his post, with many users calling it socialism, wanting to control the temperatures in people's homes. With Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders posting on X, turns out socialism isn't actually free. And Florida Governor Ron DeSantis saying, is this what was meant by the warmth of collectivism? And former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley saying, welcome to socialism. While users pointed out that Haley made a similar request and previously asked residents in her state during the winter season not to put the thermostat above 68 to prevent power outages. Mamdani doubling down on Thursday in a post on X, saying the New York independent system operator issued an early warning to alleviate strain on the power grid, saying, quote, please do your part in keeping our power on by setting your AC to 78 degrees. Jason Perry, NTD News. And Mount Rushmore is preparing for Independence Day. Workers there are racing to But the planning started a year ago, if not farther. The preparations for tomorrow have been, you know, pretty, pretty heavy. As you can see, lots of hustle and bustle around the property, including hauling fireworks to the top of the mountain so that we can shoot them off from up there. We just could not be more excited. We're just thrilled to be here. Our family is very We love America and we love living here. The 250th anniversary of this beautiful country. I actually planned the trip in January because I couldn't think of any other place that I'd rather be than here. President Trump is expected to visit Mount Rushmore tomorrow and he'll deliver remarks there. The monument is also looking to welcome thousands of visitors. The Mount Rushmore event is one of a series of celebrations planned nationwide to mark America's 250th anniversary. The event is being hosted by Freedom 250, a public private partnership organized under the White House's Task Force 250 and supported by private donations. Coming up, as we approach America's 250th birthday, millions are expected to travel. We'll tell you what every traveler should know before heading out this holiday weekend. And what's the food that defines American culture? Attendees at a county fair in Pleasanton, California, share their favorites. David Lamb brings us that. 250 years of freedom will be brought to life in our nation's capital with musical performances, tributes to American heroes, and a massive fireworks show you don't want to miss. Join NTD this Independence Day for our coverage of Freedom 250's salute to America to celebrate America 250. July 4th at 7 p.m. Eastern on NTD News. Is deep sea fish oil really healthy? Due to pollution in the oceans, most fish contain heavy metal elements and radioactive substances. That's why it's so important to choose a pure source of omega-3. Puritan Green Vegetable Omega-3 is made from porcelain and perennacin, which are rich in nutrients and minerals. It effectively improves brain power and is beneficial to the heart's health. Puritan Green Vegetable Omega-3. Eat two a day and you'll feel brand new. The bladder control aisle. You won't shop here again. Your private business is your own. The constant struggle is over. Now there's a better way. It's HGIS. 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She's in quite a perilous situation, but she's strong and serene and she's actually meditating. It was very, very well liked because no matter what culture or what sort of walk of life you're from, I think people, they see it and they immediately understand what that energy, what that message is. And they're drawn to it because everybody kind of needs a little bit of that in their own life of, you know, the steadfast calmness and something to hold on to. It's definitely an inner peace in the midst of something very chaotic. And for a lot of people right now, the whole world is very, very chaotic. So I guess that's another reason why so many people are very drawn to this. Welcome back to Entity Evening News. I'm Cary Dunst. The Fourth of July weekend is shaping up to be like any, unlike any other, as millions of Americans travel to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. Entity's Nico Bonnie has what travelers can expect and how best to prepare. Millions of Americans are expected to take to the roads this holiday weekend. And with America's birthday, FIFA World Cup games and extreme heat all converging, we're going to break down the best tips and warnings you need to know before taking to the roads. AAA expects more than 72 million Americans to travel over the Fourth of July weekend, with about 85 percent hitting the road, a record that means heavy traffic nationwide. The group says these are the top 10 destinations across the country, and four of them are also hosting World Cup matches. The advice is for the next three days of the holiday week that drivers hit the road before noon or 1 p.m. Now on Saturday, the Fourth of July itself, it's recommended that drivers wait until after 3 p.m. to hit the road because everybody's going to be getting out on the road early. Last year, AAA responded to around 700,000 roadside assistant calls with towing, dead batteries and flat tires among the most common issues. Most of these are preventable. I would check the oil. I would check the coolant. I would check tire pressure and I would have a look at the battery and just do a visual inspection. You're looking to see if there's any of that white oxide that's around the cable connectors that can impede the flow of electricity and prevent the vehicle from starting. Travelers will also face extreme heat, with the National Weather Service warning of a prolonged heat wave across much of the central and eastern U.S. And that heat doesn't stop if the car is parked, as inside temperatures can quickly rise to dangerous levels. You should not leave a child in an unattended vehicle even for one minute. And if you see a child in a vehicle that is unattended, immediately call 911. Maybe throw a blanket or something to try and put some shade on that vehicle because it's going to be very, very quickly that child will be in physical distress. Air travelers may also experience delays and are encouraged to use airline apps for real-time updates and stick to carry-on bags when possible in case plans change. Nico Bonnie, NTD News. What's the most American food you can think of? One that defines American culture? NTD's David Lam speaks with attendees at California's Alameda County Fair to find out. We're at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, California, and we asked people what their favorite American foods are. I like hot dogs. Hot dogs are your Okay. I love them. What's your top favorite? Probably a cheeseburger. Okay, cheeseburger. What about you? Um, eggs. Eggs. You said? Uh, steak. Adobo. Ribs. Yeah, barbecue ribs. Yeah. For Fourth of July. I think burgers would be way up there, and on holidays, like bratwurst, sausage, and barbecued chicken. Those kinds of items. Okay, I would say burgers. Burgers. Why is that? Because you get more than a hot dog, and burgers is easiest to cook. It doesn't take that long to cook burgers, and you can pile it on with all the condiments and everything else you need on there. We also asked people to rank their most American favorite food from one through four between hot dogs, apple pie, Texas barbecue, and burgers. Well, you gotta go with the barbecue, burger, hot dog, and then apple pie at the end. I love apple pie, number one. And then, uh, Texas barbecue, two. Burgers, three. Hot dogs, four. What would you say is the most American food you could think of? Hot dog. It would be the hot dog. Cheeseburger. Okay, same. Eggs. So this fair is being held from June 19th to July 12th with a lot of festivities ranging from carnival hours, concert, movie, and soccer hours, and even pig racing. There's also many animals that you could pet as well. What does America mean to you? Freedom to do anything you want. Freedom and peace, which is what I'd like for it to be all the way around the world. Freedom. Freedom of religion. Freedom to go where you wish to go. Freedom to have fun. And coinciding with America 250 celebrating America's 250th anniversary, we wish everybody a happy 4th of July. In Pleasanton, California, David Lam, NTD News. And if you answered hot dog, I hope you'll watch NTD Good Morning tomorrow, where we'll be showing you four different ways to elevate the classic American hot dog. Next, as the nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, one LA museum is exploring America's history through the city's own story. And it is Christina Corona takes us inside the Autry Museum of the American West's new exhibit on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the City of Angels. As the nation marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, the Autry Museum in Los Angeles is showcasing an exhibit exploring what life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has meant to generations of Angelenos. The exhibition Life, Liberty in Los Angeles explores America's founding through the history of Los Angeles. The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, while the Pueblo of Los Angeles was founded just five years later in 1781. Museum leaders say viewing those histories together offers a unique perspective on America's 250th anniversary. We wanted to find a way that America's 250th could coincide with our mission here at the Autry, which is to tell the stories of all people of the American West. And so we tell stories from the native Tongva tribe, all the way up to immigration and even present current day LA. Visitors are welcomed by the sounds of the Gabrielino Tongva language honoring the indigenous communities who lived in the Los Angeles basin long before the city's founding. The exhibit follows generations of Angelenos who pursued opportunity while shaping the city's history. It's an important time to reflect on our history as a nation, you know, the good and the bad, not just, you know, the good and happy points, right, that the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and how it manifests itself in Los Angeles, but also the contradictions of those words and how they also manifest themselves in the history of California and Los Angeles. Artifacts throughout the exhibit tell those stories from Chinese immigrant Chen Fong, who supported democratic reforms in China while advocating for his community in Los Angeles, to displays highlighting voting rights, fair housing, civil rights activism, and the ongoing struggle to expand the promises of liberty and equality to all Americans. Our curator Carolyn Brucken, she really wanted to not tell a comprehensive history of LA, but kind of hit all the important footnotes in the history of Los Angeles. The exhibit runs through January 2027. Through artifacts, artwork, and community stories, museum leaders hope visitors leave with a deeper understanding of how Los Angeles has helped shape the ongoing story of American democracy. Reporting from the city of Los Angeles, Christina Corona, NTD News. And the Coast Guard Eagle is America's tallest ship, sharing our nation's history from port to port. It's also the Coast Guard's training vessel for cadets to learn the skills they need to serve. Have a look. The Bark Eagle's role in the Coast Guard's fleet as the only active tall ship in federal government service is irreplaceable. Almost every single person who becomes an officer in the Coast Guard coming through the academy and officer candidate school comes and spends time here. Day and night, the crew teaches the younger and senior cadets how to man every inch of the 295 foot vessel. They're learning how to navigate using the stars, how to mitigate disasters like a fire in the engine room, as well as the technical and nautical skills they need for life at sea. And we get them salty. We teach them what life at sea is. Ensign Jackson Beal is newly aboard. The Eagle is a fast paced environment where he's learning the ship while teaching at the same time. I've come to realize the crew, the people are all fantastic. The mission set, being able to train and work young people is something that I really admire and love to be able to participate in. Emily Marr has been here longer. She's the only second class cadet aboard. She's also the main mass captain. Balancing being the only junior on board amongst all the seniors, the first class, and leading third class has been very challenging, I would say, but very easy to connect with them because I think they know what we have to get done. Working aboard the Eagle and training younger cadets has changed how First Cadet Mara Moss sees her future with the Coast Guard, close quarters, long days, and all. In a lot of ways, that's almost more fun. One of the best parts of being on Eagle is being able to have this valuable time with my classmates, getting closer with them. And up ahead, as we continue to honor the legacy of America at its quarter millennium birthday, we're going to speak with Jeffrey Bloodworth. He's a professor of American political history at Gannon University. Here you go. Thank you. Thank you. I was a quarterback at Fartaway High School, college first round draft pick. On and off the field, we were taught to not show any signs of weakness. During the football season, I would stop eating. I didn't know I was depressed. I thought that something was wrong with me. For 20 plus years was physical, physical, physical. We didn't have any education behind what mental health was. I started to learn it starts here first. If this is together, I'll be better as a father, as a man, and as a husband. Put the importance on your mental health. I'm not scared to talk about it anymore. The first tool is therapy. The second one is positive self-talk. Then journaling, putting your thoughts on paper. We have to redefine what being a strong man is. And heal, love, your mind. Welcome back to NTD Evening News. I'm Cary Dunst. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth honoring National Guard troops in Washington today, thanking them for their role in making D.C. safer ahead of this weekend's Independence Day and America's 250th birthday. NTD Washington correspondent Jack Bradley has more on that. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth honoring the 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen who are part of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission. This is the operation launched by executive order last year to cut crime, enforce immigration laws, and restore the Capitol ahead of America's 250th birthday. Thank you for keeping this city safe. You make our country proud at 250 years. But while Hegseth was honoring the 500 troops in attendance, protesters worked to disrupt it, blaring sirens and loud music, trying to drown it out. This background noise this morning is perfect. It's the sound of ingrates, of ingratitude. Law and order is something all Americans deserve. Black, white, rich, poor, man or woman from D.C. or far-flung places in this country. Hegseth told the formation of Guardsmen that they are responsible for the dramatic drop in crime in our nation's Capitol. According to D.C. police, crime in the district is down 22 percent overall from last year. Homicides are down 44 percent. Robberies down 20 percent and car theft down 54 percent. You all have saved over 235 lives. You have restored children back to their families 27 times. In 12 months, the crime rates in D.C. have gone from among the highest in the world to the lowest recorded in the history of our nation's Capitol. I've heard story after story where parents say to their kids when they're waiting to get picked up, just go find where the National Guard is and stand there and wait until I can come pick you up. When you hear leadership talk about the success, we are literally being carried on your backs, you're putting your lives at risk, and you're doing so because of this great country. Hegseth ending the ceremony with a moment of silence for the fallen. Last November, two West Virginia National Guard members were ambushed in a targeted shooting just blocked from the White House. 20-year-old Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was killed, while 25-year-old Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was critically wounded, but survived after a miraculous recovery. The suspect, an Afghan national, faces first-degree murder charges in the attack. You are willing to put your life on the line for other people. It's a testament to who you are. The National Guard mission in D.C. is ongoing, especially with the big Fourth of July 250th celebrations this weekend, and many of the Guardsmen were recently mobilized specifically for that. Officials say that they'll remain as long as needed to keep the momentum going. Jack Bradley, NTD News, Washington. And staying with our theme of celebrating America 250, we now welcome Jeffrey Bloodworth. He's a professor for American political history at Gannon University. Do we have you, Jeffrey? There you are. Yeah. Thank you so much for joining, Jeffrey. It's great to see you. Now, I was born during America's bicentennial year of 1976. It's 50 years later, and we're now celebrating a quarter-millennium. How would you compare America at 200 years versus now America at 250? Well, I'm an historian, and I happen to be writing a book that's dealing with 1976 and the 70s. And 1976 is so similar to 2026. There was wars that were abroad that were causing oil prices to spike. There was kind of a national mood that was worried and anxious about American decline. There was inflation. And when we're celebrating our 200th anniversary, there was a real sense amongst the chattering class of like maybe America's best years were behind us. And as a historian, I kind of thought about the last 50 years from 1976 to 2026. And we think about American economic growth, our geopolitical kind of position in the world. What it tells me is that there's just something enduring about the power of American culture that just tells me that the next 50 years are going to be a repeat of the past 50 years, that despite the anxiousness and the Sturm and Drang of the moment, America's best years are in front of us, not behind us. Well, that's certainly encouraging. And I believe you're taking a very informed historical view to come up with that opinion. But people from all over the world do seek to come here to America. You do hear a lot of this negativity and talk maybe about America's decline. So what makes America still such a desirable place relative to the rest of the world? Well, look, I think America has always been animated by a populous cultural forces. Now, I think we've seen this politically on the left and the right in the last 10 to 20 years. But America's kind of cultural power, our economic power comes from a bottom up sentiment that kind of forms the contours of American society that look, all you have to do is go on social media and see Europeans who are here for the World Cup as they go into a Waffle House or a Buc-ee's or a roadside 24-7 diner. And their mouths are agape at the enormous quantity that are available in American life, the abundance. There's just something about American cultural power, right? I mean, movies, music. I mean, American culture dominates the world. And so sometimes I'm a political historian. I love politics. Politics matters. But I think what is even more powerful and more telling than politics is the power of American culture that is fueled by a bottom up sensibility formed by regular Americans. Yeah, indeed, soft power. And when you reflect on the spirit of America, Jeffrey, and the founders referring to our republic as the American experiment, how would you judge this experiment now that we're 250 years into it? Yeah, I mean, look, the founders had a very different idea of what American democracy and American culture would look like. Most of them, except for Thomas Jefferson and a few dissidents, very much saw an elite-led American politics and an American culture. And that sentiment was kind of taken away in the early 19th century by the populist forces shaping American culture and eventually American politics. And so just because the founders had a different, more elite-led idea of what this American experiment would look like does not mean that the founders were necessarily disappointed. But look, it's an experiment, and it altered and it changed organically during the lifetime of the founders. The founders themselves became resigned and accepted this new populist reality. And so what the next 50 years will look like, none of us know. But I think what we can say is that it's not going to be predictable, and it's going to be a bottom-up movement shaped and led by regular ordinary Americans who are often on the geographic and cultural margins who come to define the center. And I think that's the genius of the American experiment. And Jeffrey, our nation was founded to give people the right to worship or to not worship in whatever way they choose. But what was an unwavering in its message in God We Trust before credit cards replaced cash, you know, people were seeing that message on a day-in and day-out basis. But how has spirituality, religion, and belief in a creator shaped that populist American way of life that you've been describing? Well, look, Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to the United States in the 1830s, and what he noticed on the American frontier was the enormous variety of American religious movements, which are, again, another reflection of this populist bottom-up culture. So America's always in the process of creation and recreation. From the very start, America has been exceptional. It's been different in the Western world and the varieties of spiritual and religious expression in American life. I know that church membership has waned in the past decade or two, but if you look to the past, American religious institutions have been very adept at adapting to new cultural environments in the way that European religious institutions are not. And I think America will continue to be exceptional and different in having higher rates of church attendance. And American religious institutions are going to meet Americans where they are, and that is different than other religious institutions in the Western world. It's just part of who we are. Americans are a church-going, God-fearing people. Well, Jeffrey Bloodworth, thank you so much for joining, and a happy 4th to you. Same to you. Thank you. The past few days, when I've been at that window upstairs, I've thought a bit of the shining city upon a hill. In my mind, it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace. And the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get there. That's how I saw it and see it still. After 200 years, two centuries, she's still standing strong and true on the Granite Ridge, and her glow is held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a mech for all who must have freedom. Patriotic sentiment and festivities taking center stage in the Naples nation's capital. This comes as folks from around the country and the world are all enjoying the Great American State Fair. NDD's Sam Wong was out on the fairgrounds to hear from the people about the celebration. What do you think about all the festivities? Do you have a favorite part? Well, we just got here about an hour ago and we took a ride on the Ferris wheel and that was fantastic. Did you see those jets out there? I don't know how anybody doesn't lose their socks when the jets come flying over. Like, I wouldn't want to be fighting America for damn sure. We got our passport stamped, so we went visited all the states. Got some free gator plushie from Florida and little Debbie treats from Tennessee. It's fun. I think just witnessing all these people who love America as much as I do and take pride in their country is an amazing statement to the rest of the world. I like all the beautiful art that we have here, like all the paintings and all the fun little things my brother can do. He's excited to be here. If you know me, every day to me is the Fourth of July. You know, this is what I do. I paint versions of the greatest work of art in the history of civilization, which is the American flag. In the art world especially, we see a lot of anti-American sentiment. So how important do you think it is for an artist to sort of recognize how far we come as a nation and how great this country is? That's funny you mention that. That's how I actually got started with the patriotic theme, the American flag theme. You know, there were some galleries that had the flag on the ground where you had to wipe your feet to enter the gallery. I can't be any part of a club that if you do not succumb to the anti-American isms of their agenda, then you won't exist as an artist. And I said, I don't care. I'm out. And that's when my calling hit me. If you think about the past 250 years, what we've accomplished so far, how proud are you being an American? Very proud. We've done so much to make our country as great as it possibly can be. And I think we're still doing that. I'm pretty proud to be an American. I've lived in many places around the world and there's no place better. My father fought in Korea for freedom and I stand proud and I fly my American flag proudly as an American. Don't touch or trample on that flag and I'll get angry. I believe that God ordained this country. I think the people who founded this country had a mission and I love that they came here and founded our country and look at what a great place we have. And in case you're just joining us now, America is about to turn 250. And as we enter the July 4th weekend, entity correspondent Jason Blair breaks down the top events, including Mount Rushmore with President Trump and the massive salute to America celebration on the National As we enter the homestretch leading to America's 250th Independence Day, let's take a look at the top events to watch out for. On Friday, July 3rd, there's Rushmore 250 in Keystone, South Dakota. This celebration features military honors, family friendly activities, fireworks and a keynote speech by President Trump all against the iconic backdrop of Mount Rushmore. In-person tickets are now closed, but you can watch the live stream at ntd.com slash live. Also on Friday and extending into Saturday is the Giving Fourth Benefits Show at One Time Square in New York City. This charity broadcast event features performances by artists, including Mary J. Blige and Brad Paisley. It's primarily a live stream production. Then on Saturday, July 4th, the salute to America celebration takes center stage at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Daytime activities begin earlier with a patriotic sing-along, prayers and speakers on the main stage around 3.30 p.m. Eastern, including NTD's sister media outlet, Epoch Times senior editor Janja Kellick. The main evening program kicks off at 5 p.m. Eastern in Washington, D.C., featuring additional speakers, the Joint Armed Forces Orchestra, military flyovers and more. President Trump is scheduled to speak around 9 p.m. Eastern. Now I'll be speaking. I'll be very proudly speaking as we ring in our 250th year with the largest fireworks display in world history, 10 times larger than any that we've ever done in Washington or in the United States. The evening culminates with what's being called the largest fireworks display in history. You can catch special coverage of the Salute to America celebrations starting at 7 p.m. here on NTD. Reporting from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jason Blair, NTD News. And coming up at the World Cup, the U.S. advances last night with a thrilling win, but what are their prospects going forward? Dave Martin joins us to discuss all things World Cup. Today's seniors are enjoying life more than ever before and part of that comes from the independence of driving. However, car insurance for older drivers becomes more expensive the older we get. Just because I'm a senior and maybe you are too, do we really have to pay outrageously high insurance rates? Well, the answer is no, we don't. When was the last time you checked to make sure you're paying the lowest available rate? Well, maybe it's time to give your car insurance a tune-up just to make sure your rates are running properly. You change your oil, you change your tires, well maybe it's time to change your car's insurance company. Are you paying too much for your auto insurance? If so, you're just throwing your money away. So the only way to really know if you're paying too much is to call the number on your screen. 1-800-952-5196. 1-800-952-5196. You'll speak with a licensed insurance agent. They may have an insurance plan that could lower your yearly premiums by hundreds of dollars. Seniors can save money on their car insurance. So call right now and find out just how much money you might be able to save. Come on, call now. You may be able to save a lot of money, maybe hundreds of dollars a year. Just call the number on your screen and speak with a licensed insurance agent. Yes, it is possible for seniors to save on car insurance. You could lower your premiums by hundreds of dollars a year. As a responsible driver, you always check your gauges, right? And you check for other cars and pedestrians. You check your oil and you check your mirrors. Well, now is the time to check on your auto insurance rates. You need to make sure that you're not paying more than you need to. Call the number on your screen right now. 1-800-952-5196. 1-800-952-5196. Tired of struggling with that heavy leaf blower? Introducing the Bullseye Power Blower. It delivers a massive blowing force, and yet it's so compact and lightweight. Just lock and load the rechargeable battery for long-lasting runtime. The secret is the compact turbocharged motor with Jetverse technology that blasts out 21,000 RPMs of airflow. Watch this, the sheer force propels this woman across the pool. Look, use Bullseye to blow up a huge jump house. Now that's power. Even blows snow right off your vehicle in no time. Turbo clean your porch in a flash or tidy up your dirty garage floor in seconds. Get it today for just $99.99. But wait, act now and get a $20 discount, so it's only $79.99. Plus, you'll get the adjustable extension tube. Yours free, and it all comes with free shipping. Order now. Call 1-800-209-2313 or go to bullseyeblower.com. That's 1-800-209-2313 or order online at bullseyeblower.com. Order now. Thanks for the heads up. And now for your sports news, we're joined by NTD's Dave Martin. Dave, we got some NBA news, but let's of course start with the World Cup. I feel like I maybe I'm having some deja vu. Did we not have this chat 12 hours ago? There's a lot to talk about, though. The U.S. beats Bosnia and Herzegovina. What do you think? You know, I could keep talking about this for another 24 hours. That was a great win last night. You know, 36th minute, or sorry, the 64th minute, they get the red card given to Faleron Bolligan. And, you know, it looks like the U.S. won nothing at that point. You're wondering, you know, is the momentum going to shift and go to Bosnia? I mean, of course, a red card means an ejection. Plus, it means you cannot bring someone on. You substitute them. So they were down one man for the final 36 minutes of the match. Still got the shutout. It seemed like every time Bosnia tried to get the ball in the box, you know, when there's a corner kick or not, it seemed like someone was there to intercept the pass or head the ball out, clear it out. In fact, the U.S. actually increased their lead from 1-0 to 2-0 during that, you know, that power play essentially for Bosnia there. Malik Tillman hit that beautiful free kick over the Bosnian wall, if you will, in the 82nd minute to make it 2-0. I mean, announcers were gushing over that one for quite a while, and who can blame them? That was such a beautiful kick. What an image of it right there. I mean, look at it bending and curling right to the corner. It was just, I've never seen a shot like that. I mean, it was just, it was magic. Yeah, that is somehow how you bend the ball. I don't know how he did it, but he bended the ball over them and into the goal. That was amazing. The U.S., they were advanced to play Belgium on Monday night. Any thoughts on Belgium? Obviously, they came off that very upbeat win when they rallied. They were down 2-0, and they somehow won 3-2 in the extra time. I mean, clearly, you cannot let up against them or take any lead for granted against them. But, of course, the U.S. is going to be, they're not going to be down, they're not going to be playing 10 on 11 like they were yesterday. But, Balogun is at least going to be suspended for one game going forward, and that's going to be the Belgium game. It could be two, it could be more than one. They would have a chance to appeal in that case, though. So, we still haven't actually seen a game by the U.S. at full strength, you could say, because Christian Pulisic was largely regarded as their best player. He only played half of the first game, missed the second game, played part of the third game. He did play yesterday for most of the game, but then Balogun, who's their best scorer, missed the final 36 minutes. Yet, they've still got three wins out of four here, so it's very good for the U.S. But now, today, let's look at today's action. We've got about that here, Kerry. There's Cristiano Ronaldo. There he is. They are in action tonight. Now, Spain beat Austria this afternoon 3-0, so Spain advances to play the winner of the next game on. That's Croatia versus Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal. That game will be played up in Toronto in just a few minutes here at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Ronaldo, he's never won the World Cup. Portugal, though, did get fourth in 2006, which was his first. Now, the very late game will be Switzerland versus Algeria tonight at 11 p.m. Eastern Time. That game will be played in Vancouver, Canada. Winner of that one will face the winner of tomorrow's Colombia versus Ghana match. So, hopefully, we have as much excitement in these games today as we did yesterday. We mentioned the Belgium win. They were down 2-0 in the 85th minute, somehow got two goals in five minutes to force extra time, where they won at the end, very end of extra time. That was actually the latest goal in World Cup history, amazingly, the winner they got to win that one. Meanwhile, England yesterday was down 1-0 in the 75th minute. Harry Kane then got two goals in the next 10 minutes, so the thrilling win there. So, yesterday was quite a banner day in World Cup history, I've got to say. Well, Dave, we're pressed for time, but I'm going to have to call it out now that Monday night, when the U.S. plays, you might get a little sick and have to skip jury duty on Tuesday morning. We might need you on NTD Good Morning. Thanks for joining, as always. Thank you, Kerry. And that is all the time we have for today's evening news, but you can always watch us live at NTD.com or use our NTD app. Thanks for tuning in, I'm Kerry Dunst, good night.