Capitol Report Full Broadcast (July 2)

And good evening tonight on Capitol Report, destroying the reflecting pool in Washington, D.C. Former Olympian David Hearn charged with destruction. What witnesses say they saw him doing. Today is about accountability for damaging a national resource, a national treasure. And eight days under rubble. Emergency teams saving a Venezuelan man who was buried in debris since the deadly earthquakes. Tonight, senior State Department official Dylan Johnson shares the inside story of the U.S. response. China is nowhere to be found. Russia is nowhere to be found. The United States has devoted $300 million to this response. And New York City Mayor Mamdani taking heat for cutting off air conditioning. Why he's telling New Yorkers to set their thermostats to 78 degrees and what Republicans are saying about it. This is Capitol Report, live from our global headquarters in our nation's capital. Here's Steve Lance. New charges for damaging the Lincoln reflecting pool in Washington. Former U.S. Olympian canoeist David Hearn indicted today on a felony charge of destruction of property. 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, 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. Hearn was arrested two weeks ago. National Park Service employees say they observed him forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands. Witnesses say he damaged approximately two square feet of sealant. When a park employee told him to stop, he allegedly shouted belligerently. Hearn denies that he caused the damage and says he reached into the water to touch a piece of sealant that was already floating. He is accused of causing over $1,000 worth of damage. He now faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. And hiring in June slowing from the rapid pace it saw in spring, but the stable growth still showing 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 the American people. NTD's White House correspondent Iris Tao has more from the North alone. The Labor Department on Thursday says that a U.S. economy added 57,000 jobs in June, about half of what economists have predicted. But it also marks the fourth straight month of gains. That's 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 that 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. NTT asked Kevin Hassett what major changes he 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 Social Security. To work harder, make more money, and keep cruddy. That we saw in the tax return data that the typical benefit across all three was maybe six, seven thousand dollars 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 dollars 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 And a miraculous rescue effort after spending eight days trapped beneath a collapsed shopping center, a Venezuelan security guard has now been rescued alive. Rescuers carrying Hernan Alberto Gil Flores on a stretcher threw crowds of people into a Red Cross ambulance. The 43-year-old had been trapped since June 24th beneath a shopping center about 30 minutes from Caracas. The security booth created a small air pocket that helped him survive. Rescuers first made contact with him over the weekend. They kept him alive by delivering food and water through tubing and said one of his first requests was tell my wife not to worry. The twin earthquakes killed more than 2,200 people and injured more than 11,000. Search crews are still racing to find survivors among the thousands who remain missing. The United States military has been assisting rescue efforts in Venezuela after those deadly earthquakes. Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, joins us now to discuss some of the work the United States has been doing. Dylan Johnson, thank you so much for joining. Thanks for having me. It's great to have you with us. Some miraculous efforts still taking place in the country of Venezuela. The United States military has been assisting Venezuela's rescue efforts after the earthquakes that have killed at least 1,700 people, sadly and counting. Talk to us about how the United States has been able to mobilize and the scale of the effort there. Yeah, well look, we're really pleased with the response that we've had thus far. Secretary Rubio, as soon as this disaster struck, was clear that he wanted to see a response that was big, that was effective, and that was fast. And so that's exactly what we've delivered on the ground. And as you mentioned, it's not possible without the help of our interagency partners. And so the Department of War and South Com have been critical in that effort. Right now, currently, the USS Fort Lauderdale is docked at the port right outside of Caracas. It was the U.S. military that rebuilt both runways and the tower that had collapsed in Caracas. And now we have flights coming in every single hour. We have hundreds of personnel from our task force, our search and rescue teams from California, from Virginia, and from Florida, and they're doing historic work. I mean, just today, a couple of hours ago, we learned that it was the U.S. rescue teams that were able to save, after eight days, another living person out of the rubble. And it's a true miracle on the ground and a testament to the heroism of the U.S. response in Venezuela. And there are so many Venezuelan Americans, Venezuelan asylees due to the socialist regime that has since changed, thankfully, that have a lot of family and relatives inside of Venezuela there. There's been claims that some Venezuelan officials are preventing American crews from assisting the injured. How have we responded to these kinds of issues on the ground? Yeah, so these are, you know, a little bit over-dramatized in some of the reporting I've seen. You know, we've been working very closely and in close coordination with the interim authorities, and we have found, you know, full compliance from them throughout this process. Now, it's important to note, this is a country that, after decades of pillaging by Maduro and his regime, this was a country that was left incapable of responding to this disaster on their own. It's only through the United States leadership that we've been able to see such a successful response. That being said, we have, you know, continued to work closely, and we've found full compliance from the interim authorities on the ground. That's great news. Many buildings fell down almost immediately as the earthquake started, according to some of the video and reports coming out. Is the socialist regime, the previous regime, to blame for why the damage was so severe, in your opinion? Yeah, I think that's certainly a part of it. I mean, we've made clear that we have a lot of issues with how the country of Venezuela was governed for the last, well, up until January. And we've seen a positive turnaround. I mean, this was a country that was on a path of rehabilitation before twin earthquakes struck eight days ago. It's been very tragic to see the results of that, unfortunately, unfold. But we are very hopeful in our ability to respond. I mean, we've seen massive mobilization of field hospitals with advanced surgical capabilities. We've been able to get infrastructure back online quickly. And like I said, it's the United States that's leading this. And 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 a thousand 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. It's really a fascinating point that you make there. Venezuela's interim government is currently engaging in economic cooperation with the United States. What has changed on the ground in Venezuela in terms of human rights and abandoning socialism? Well, we've seen the release of some political prisoners, and the president's been clear that we expect that to continue. Like I said, we were in the early stages of the Secretary's three-phase plan for Venezuela when this tragedy occurred. So we had a lot of work to do then. We have a lot of work to do now. Right now, our focus is, of course, on the humanitarian catastrophe and making sure that we are being fully responsive to the lifesaving efforts that are going on, medical, housing, things like that, making sure that infrastructure comes back online. And so we're committed to every step of the way of helping the Venezuelan people, not only through this tragedy, but also towards implementing the entirety of the three-phase plan that the Secretary had announced for Venezuela. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, Dylan Johnson, greatly appreciate you joining us. Thanks so much. And at least 21 civilians in Kiev, Ukraine, are now dead in one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine's capital city since the start of the war. NTD's international correspondent, Ariane Pasdar, reports. 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 Bitkoff 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 UK. 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 the strength to face another day. And that's a live look at the White House. The festivities for America 250 are ramping up right here in the nation's capital and across the nation. We'll take a closer look just after the break. Tired of struggling with that heavy leaf blower? Introducing the Bullseye Power Blower. 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Hi, I'm Jane Seymour, and I spent years on TV playing a doctor, but I learned about the heartbreaking reality of heart disease and stroke when they touched my own life. My father nearly died before having a quadruple bypass and valve replacement that saved him. And my mom, who was my inspiration, suffered a stroke that took away her speech, her ability to move, and ultimately her life. To see someone so vibrant, so positive, who'd survived so much in life be debilitated by a stroke, it was devastating, and also a wake-up call. And that's why I'm so passionate about supporting the American Heart Association. They're doing more every day to stop needless deaths, but they simply can't do their life-saving work without you. So please call now or go to helpheart.org, and for only $19 a month, just 63 cents a day, your donation will go to work to do amazing things like fund the next medical breakthrough, get the next person trained in CPR, and the next hospital certified in high-quality cardiovascular care. I hope that you'll open your heart right now and join me. Please call now or go to helpheart.org, give $19 a month, and we'll send you this special t-shirt that you can proudly wear to show that you're part of a community of monthly donors who are helping save lives. A healthy heart is the spirit of life. It makes it possible to do the things that you love, to spend time with your friends and family and fulfill your life's dreams, but so many won't have that chance. Heart disease is America's number one killer and the number one killer of women, and that's why I'll do whatever I can to make sure others don't die from heart disease before their time. So please join me. Please call or go online to helpheart.org, become a monthly donor, and for a limited time only, your first month's gift will be next. And welcome back to the Capitol Report. I'm Steve Lance. America is about to turn 250 years old. 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 Mall. As we enter the home stretch 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, Deanna 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 celebration starting at 7 p.m. here on NTD. Reporting from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Jason Blair, NTD News. And patriotism and love of country taking center stage in the nation's capital. This comes as folks from around the nation and the world enjoying the Great American State Fair. NTD'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 would want to be fighting America for damn sure. We got our passports stamped, and 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 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've come as a nation and how great this country is? That's funny you mentioned 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? Oh, 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. One policy change reshaping billions of dollars in investment. All American investors are getting a windfall after President Trump pushed out Chinese clean energy manufacturers. Find out more tonight on China in Focus with Tiffany Meyer at 9.30 p.m. Eastern time. And Secretary of War Pete Hegseth honoring National Guard troops right here in Washington today, thanking them for their role in making Washington, D.C. safer ahead of this weekend's Independence Day and America's 250th celebration. NTD's Washington correspondent Jack Bradley has the details. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth honoring the 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen who were 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 4th 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 you're looking at a live shot of the National Mall right here in Washington, D.C. This is the heat wave across the East Coast pushing over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani asking his residents to keep their thermostats at a high 78 degrees. The backlash when we come back. You've done the hard part. You quit smoking. Now do the easy part and get scanned for lung cancer. If you smoked, you may still be at risk, but early detection could save your life. Talk to your doctor and learn more at SavedByTheScan.org. You see certain things get reincarnated in your children. My daughter is very much inspired by my wife's artistic pursuits, so my daughter started making necklaces. She makes what we call affirmation fashion. I tell her every day that you're black is beautiful. You're black is beautiful. You're black is beautiful. And if there's anything better than being beautiful, it's being smart. And if there's anything better than being smart, it's being kind. And reaffirming that every day is our method of making sure her chin never drops. My dad wasn't around, and I remember riding a bike and falling off and cutting myself, and me never just wanting to get back on it. People ask, how your children learn how to ride a bike? And you did. I didn't teach them. I just created an environment where they taught themselves, and all I had to do was be there. And welcome back to the Capitol Report. New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani asking his residents to set their thermostats to 78 degrees in order to prevent possible power outages in New York City. But some public officials are now calling the request a 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 on, and so does the AC, and lives are saved. But this isn't something new. The recommendation for New Yorkers to set their ACs 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 set 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 the New York City Mayor has advised all businesses to set their thermostats to 78 degrees in order to conserve energy. This comes as the East Coast is being hit with a massive heat wave. Is this a sign of more to come with democratic socialist policies? Joining us now to discuss are our panelists, Richard Goodstein, former advisor to the Clinton campaign, and Matt Klink, GOP strategist and president of Klink Campaigns. It's great to have you both with us. So amid this historic heat wave on the East Coast, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has advised all businesses to set their thermostats to 78 degrees. Here's the mayor warning people of high temperatures in the weekend. Expecting incredibly hot temperatures. We are talking about a level of heat that the city has not seen in more than a decade. And what we asked New Yorkers to do is to be mindful of the danger that accompanies those temperatures. The mayor receiving a lot of pushback from people, Representative Brandon Gill of Texas posting, quote, Welcome to socialism, where the government demands you turn your house into a sauna because they can't plan for the super unpredictable fact that it tends to get hot in the summer. Richard, if the grid can't handle a summer heat wave, is that an example of poor planning on the part of New York City? So that comment that you just quoted was a totally moronic comment, right? First of all, he's not ordering anybody to do anything. Two thousand people have died from heat between France and Spain. I just literally came back a couple days ago from Vienna, Austria, where my hotel, the best one in town, lost power for several hours when it was 100 degrees there. All Mamdani is doing is basically saying, if you want to have our air conditioners work, you kind of have to basically pitch in here and do something that's just common sense. You're going to survive just fine in 78 degree temperatures. So, look, it's predictable this pouring on because he's a socialist and so forth, when what he's doing is common sense. And if he didn't do it and it lost power, people would have complained about that. So I'm sorry. I think this is utterly idiotic, this complaint about him. Matt, the argument is from communal kitchens to communal thermostats, the pattern is the same. The state promises collective abundance, fails to deliver capacity, then asks citizens to prove their virtue through discomfort. So is Mayor Mamdani, you know, embracing this socialist label? Are these collective requests toward New Yorkers a sign of that ideological mindset? Hi, Steve. I think that your reporter hit it right that, you know, Giuliani did the same thing. Other other Democrats in New York have done the same thing. Texas is Texas has done it during heat waves. Look, I think that it's always fun to give jabs to Mamdani, the socialist, for promising that government's going to do everything for you. And this is clearly a case where government doesn't have it in its power to solve this problem with the abundance. If they were building energy in New York state, maybe they could plan for the future to accommodate the use of more power by more people. But that's not the case. So it's just a little bit of fun kidding. Nothing's going to happen. It's I mean, it's not as dire as Jimmy Carter's abundance speech or melee speech where he told people to wear a sweater and turn the thermostat down during a cold snap. But it's just it's all in good fun. So but it's more important to keep the air conditioning on so that people don't die. But by the way, we never want to be compared to enter to Europe from an energy perspective. They're a flat out disaster. Speaking of socialism, the Democratic Socialists of America have continued their internal coup of the Democratic Party as it's being put by some. It's continuing its effort to really oust longtime Democratic incumbents. Here's Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer condemning the takeover. Listen, what do socialists stand for? Tax raising, job killing policies like defunding the police, shuttering prisons, massive unfunded spending increases and even government run grocery stores. America is the land of opportunity. Capitalism, American innovation and the American worker who built our great country. We cannot let socialism tear it down. Richard, these primary grabs have been carefully coordinated by the DSA. Are we seeing a socialist takeover or is there some concern of the mainstream Democratic Party that the party is actually being subverted? So when you say, you know, takeover called by some, it's called by BOP and the right wingers and Republicans because here's the proof. The Senate is very much in play now. Why? Because the Democrats have nominated moderates in North Carolina and in Alaska and Ohio and Iowa. And the list goes on of places where against very progressive challengers, the Democrats have nominated moderates. And just the day that these DSA people were taking over seats in New York, there were moderates who won seats to take on Mike Lawler in upstate New York and to win the seat in Utah, in Salt Lake City and in South Carolina. In swing districts, DSA is doing nothing. They haven't flipped a single seat, not one, from red to blue. So they're making blue I hope they're happy with themselves. But the fact of the matter is there's no takeover. The Democratic Party, there's not a single vote you could point to as to how the Democrats are doing anything differently because a few of these kooky people, let me just say one quick thing. This woman who got nominated in the Bronx saying no police and open borders, her people are largely Hispanic. They want the border to be sealed. They want there to be police. These people who are Matt, some Democrats have welcomed the idea of a big tent party, calling it with the socialists coming in. Is this a sign that the party leadership is weakening or rolling over? It's a sign that the Democratic Party is rolling over. And I would counter Richard by saying Graham Plattner in Maine, James Tallarico in Texas, Abdul El-Sayed, who was just endorsed by Alexander Ocasio-Cortez in Michigan. Look, the reality is, is that what was initially an urban problem for Democrats, meaning that New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Washington has now metastasized and spread to other parts of the country. And you know that the polling data on this must be horrible because the Democratic consultants that I've seen on TV and that I talk to regularly, they can't help but talk about how moderate the Democrats really are and all of the things like capitalism that they allegedly stand for. So this is going to be a big problem. It's going to hurt Democrats in those swing districts. And I hope that they nominate more Democratic socialist candidates. I think that it reflects the position of the party, which is now anti-Israel, pro-Palestine, pro-open border. So again, please, please nominate more of these DSA candidates. Richard, the DSA has previously called for a second constitutional convention. Are these signs of a more radical agenda? And do you sort of feel the sentiment that Matt is expressing that it could be a major problem for the Democrats? There are no more of a problem for the Democratic Party than these congressional establishment Republicans who had Nazi symbols over their shoulder when they were doing the swing states and swing districts. It's not the DSA. You would be hard-pressed. I would pay you $1,000 right now for every single DSA member that you could name who's won a swing district. The answer is not. They haven't. So no, I don't think what the leadership of the Democratic Party is going to say to them is like, have your fun. Incidentally, we don't even think your constituents agree with what you're saying. But there's zero, zero evidence that they're influencing the Democratic Party. Indeed, there was a poll recently and Democrats were asked, do you think the party should be more moderate, more liberal, or stay about the same? And by 57%, Democrats said the party should be more moderate. So I think that the sentiment is exactly where it should be. And that's the reason why the betting markets have an over 80% chance of the Democrats flipping the House and now a coin flip for the Senate. Matt, you have the co-chair of the DSA, Democrat Socialists of America, meeting with European Marxists. Is the label of democratic socialism deceptive and covering more radical positions, in your opinion? Oh, 100%. They realize that they want to attach democratic to it because that's palatable in the United States of America. They're flat-out socialists. And what Richard had said earlier just doesn't hold water. Look at the Biden administration pushing the Green New Deal. Look at what now almost every Democrat in the United States Senate has said about getting rid of the filibuster, expanding the Supreme Court, and passing all these radical progressive left policies. The problem is, is that the democratic mainstream, they will bow to the left and say that the left really doesn't have a lot of influence. But around the margins, they alter policy. Just look at the disastrous energy policies pursued by the Biden and Harris administration that the Democrats in Congress meekly went along with. So it is a huge problem for the Democrats. And frankly, they shouldn't be called democratic socialists. They're flat-out socialists, which is counterintuitive to what America was founded on. On a slightly lighter note, maybe, Japan illuminating various landmarks such as the Tokyo Tower in red, white, and blue as a tribute to America's 250th birthday. Richard, even Japan is going out of its way to pay tribute to America's legacy. Meantime, Democrats are polling at an all-time low for pride of country and almost being embarrassed of patriotism. Should we be proud of our country as a nation, regardless of party? I think there's kind of a mixed message here. Like a lot of other people in this country, Democrats are mortified to have Donald Trump as president of their country. It's an embarrassment. And indeed, if you travel around the world, people are embarrassed for the United States to have Donald Trump as its president. I think it's great that Japan's an exception to that. Their prime minister wants to be Margaret Thatcher, and she sees herself quite simpatico with Donald Trump. So maybe it's not a coincidence that Japan is putting up the red, white, and blue. They're also quite grateful for all the support they've gotten over the decades from the US. Look, I think that Democrats believe, obviously, in this country in ways that are kind of undeniable. And there's a reason, again, that since Donald Trump got in office in January of 2025, Democrats have outperformed federal, state, and local every election by 10, 15, 20 percentage points. And again, that reflects the fact that they want this country to be in different hands. And it's not because they feel anything worse about the country itself. Matt, give me the last word in your 4th of July message. Well, look, I wasn't a big fan of Bill Clinton. I wasn't a big fan of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, or Joe Biden, but I'm always an American first person. I love this country. It's given me things that no other country in the world can provide. And I am extremely proud to be an American. And it is unfortunate that the Democrats in particular are fickle. It depends on who holds that office. I'm America first all the time. I love this country. And I wish everybody a happy 250th birthday, irrespective of who the president is. The country is what we're celebrating, not the person that holds the office. And shame on Democrats for making it otherwise. Richard Goodstein, Matt Klink, happy 4th. Thank you both. And just days before the 4th of July, a Pennsylvania state representative says Democrats tried to kick him off of the House floor for wearing an American flag suit jacket. Now, State Rep. Eric Devanzo joins Tiffany Meyer to tell his full story. That's tonight on Tiffany Meyer Tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern. And you're looking at another live shot of the National Mall right here in D.C. as the Supreme Court rules that states can ban biological men from women's sports. Questions remain over how other states will respond to the ruling. More from U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley on the future of women's sports just after the break. 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 perilla seeds, which are rich in nutrients and minerals. 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So the Supreme Court has ruled that states can ban men from women's sports. Here's Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women of America, celebrating the decision and what it represents for young women. Young women have worked on this issue for almost a decade. We recognized early on that this was going to be an issue that would impact young women in their safe spaces, on their sports teams, in their locker rooms. And we're so happy today to see that the court agrees with us. Congressman, do you think this will have any impact on the California Interscholastic Federation's willingness to allow men in women's sports? Well, probably not, unfortunately, for whatever reason. And really, it's one thing to look at what the CIF has done, but this actually emanates from the governor and policymakers in California, who are standing by a state law that is specifically designed to allow biological males to compete in the female division. Notably, even Governor Newsom has said that this is fundamentally unfair, and yet he's been unwilling to change the policy. And so the Supreme Court decision said that if a state wants to do what has always just been kind of common sense and common practice, which is to have a boys' division and a girls' division, then they can do that, which is good for those states. But it's not a lot of help, unfortunately, for California families who are fighting for fairness. Speaking of common sense, women's sports were ultimately created because biology does matter. Pretending it suddenly doesn't, one might argue, is not progress, but erasure. As of now, there are 23 states without laws to protect women's sports, as we mentioned. Do you think the states that have vowed to allow men in women's sports will face legal challenges down the road? I think they will. In fact, those challenges are already underway. I think that that is the position of the administration, is that this is a violation of our civil rights laws. And in California, I should mention, they've taken it to an absurd extreme. I'll give you a quick anecdote. In my district, there's actually a school district in the Tahoe Truckee area that competes in Nevada because they can't play certain sports in California during the winter. There's too much snow there. So they go to Nevada where those sports are played in the spring, and they've done that for many decades. But just this last year, suddenly California ordered them to no longer compete in Nevada because Nevada doesn't have the same policy as California when it comes to letting biological males in the girls' division. And so what this means is actually for boys and girls, teams alike, they're not going to be able to compete at all because it's simply not practical to play soccer or tennis in the snow in California during those months. It's the ultimate example. It shows you what's at issue here. It's not at all about opportunity or well-being for our young people. It's just an ideology that runs contrary to common sense. There's actually another issue the Committee on Education and Workforce has been looking into. It seems to have found that youth sports has become increasingly commercialized and expensive. What is driving up these costs? Yeah, we did a hearing about this a couple days ago. I'm the chair of the subcommittee that is looking at this issue. And there have been many examples of business practices where essentially you have private equity or others come in and kind of roll up all of the competitors in a given area or the different organizations that sponsor youth athletics. And so then they gain this market power and then raise prices and then force parents to buy their apparel and to stay at their preferred hotels and so buy their uniforms. And so the costs just kind of compound to the point at which you've had huge increases in the cost that average families pay to participate in youth sports. And what this has done is widen the gap in terms of access, where the gap between the number of kids from low-income areas who play youth sports and those from higher-income areas, that has grown considerably in recent years because it's become so expensive just to buy. In your assessment, Congressman, from the hearings and the discussions that may have come before and after, what do you think might be able to be done to ensure that American families won't be priced out of youth sports? Well, we brought in a few examples of, number one, you know, just having the public sector make this a priority in terms of parks and recreation, access to facilities, and then, of course, nonprofits. And then there are also models where private investment has actually been used in positive ways to broaden access, to create opportunities for more kids. And the professional sports leagues as well, the NBA, the NFL, the MLB, they've actually, you know, have good programs that are designed to try to provide access at very low cost. And they have kind of the right incentives because the more young people they can get involved, the more interest it sparks in their sport. So that's what we need to do is support the nonprofits, you know, have a renewed focus as a matter of public policy on making these opportunities available to young people, as well as to catalyze the kinds of private investment that can expand opportunity rather than restrict it. Congressman, lastly, as you know, we're just a few days out from America's 250th birthday, which is also the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. What message do you have for Americans ahead of this historic July 4th? Well, I believe America is the greatest country in the world. We came up with the greatest form of government ever invented. And there may be many in our country who feel like we have veered from the founding principles that have made our country the greatest country in the world. But we have faced many, many challenges throughout our history. And there is a resilience in the spirit of the American people that has overcome those obstacles time and time again. And I have full confidence that whatever ails our body politic right now, whatever is causing the gridlock and division that's all too common in this country, we can overcome that. And I think that maybe the 250th anniversary might be the right time to take a more reflective attitude to think about what defines us as Americans and to chart a better path forward. California Congressman Kevin Kiley, greatly appreciate you joining us. And the U.S. men's national soccer team is making history and their fans are singing along a powerful chorus of Take Me Home Country Roads, congratulating the team after their victory last night. The United States team winning their match against Bosnia, surviving the first round of knockout matches in the World Cup at a Seattle match in June, the crowd triggered regional earthquake detectors with the force of their singing following a powerful victory over Australia in the group stage. The road to the World Cup tightens from here with a match against Belgium set for July 6th. Regardless, Americans are making the most of the historic year and coming together over this patriotic tune. And that is all we have for you tonight on the Capitol Report. Stay connected to the stories that matter and visit ntd.com for all of your news from the nation's Capitol. I'm Steve Lance. Have a great evening. See you back here tomorrow.