Capitol Report Full Broadcast (July 3)

Good evening. Tonight on Capitol Report, South Dakota's iconic Mount Rushmore like never before. President Trump marking the nation's 250th birthday. What's on the program? As we enter the 250th year, Americans must never forget we are a historic and heroic people. 100 degree temperatures blasting July 4th celebrations like the Great American State Fair here in D.C. and Philadelphia's Independence Parade. But Americans are not letting it dampen the mood. I've called my parents multiple times and said, y'all need to get on a flight here tonight, be here for tomorrow. The best of America on display on the National Mall and across the nation. What it's like behind the scenes at the fair making this historic 4th of July like no other. This is Capitol Report, live from our global headquarters in our nation's capital. Here's Steve Lance. I'm Fiona Gee, in for Steve Lance tonight. President Trump on his way to South Dakota for a historic Mount Rushmore celebration tonight. That's before he returns to Washington for the biggest 4th of July celebration in American history. We're now joined live by NTD's White House correspondent Mari Otsu at Mount Rushmore. Good evening, Mari. It really sounds like it's going to be quite the show tonight. And I see you're experiencing some inclement weather as well. What can we expect? Yeah, Fiona, quite the show expected here tonight. And a ping pong sized hail coming in right now. But it's certainly not dampening anyone's spirits here. Everyone's holding in the exhibition space downstairs and spirits are still high. And this was a very hot ticket. Now, over 100,000 people were in a lottery for this ticket. And just under 5,000 were awarded it. Attendees over the past couple of hours telling me that this is really a once in a lifetime opportunity. And that they're so grateful to be here. Now, the program started just under an hour ago here. The theme is American history, culture, and patriotism. There were lots of family friendly exhibits. There were some presidential reenactments. I spoke to both Abraham Lincoln and George Washington here. And there's going to be lots of music. Now, later in the night, there's also going to be a bunch of flyovers. President Trump himself, I don't know about the inclement weather right now, but he is expected to himself fly over Mount Rushmore in that new $400 million Air Force One jet that was gifted by Qatar to the United States. Now, after that, President Trump's remarks will begin at 8.30 p.m. Mountain Time. He'll be introduced by the Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum. And after that, the night will conclude with an over $700,000 firework display that will last about half an hour. Now, NTD was here over the past couple of days talking to attendees about what most excited them about today. Now, take a look. What are you most excited for? Seeing the president. We're from Franktown, Colorado, just outside of Denver. And we're just here to celebrate our country as a veteran. And my father's a veteran, and his father's a veteran. Our country is really important to us, and we just want to celebrate it the best way we can. The excitement of being here, getting to see the president. This will be my third president I've seen in my life, and I'm looking forward to the best. I think seeing Trump. The president. Probably seeing the president live and then the fireworks. All of it. It's all good. Yeah. What are you most grateful for as an American citizen? The freedom to do what we want. That's what we fought for. That's what my friends died for. And we'll keep doing that for the rest of time. Freedom. Our freedom, for sure. Free, yes. To see what other people have to go through in their countries. And the soccer tournaments have told that story because all the other fans that came here could not believe how beautiful our country is and how free and carefree we can go around with our lives. We are in a very protected and, like, very gifted community. It's beautiful. This feels like just being a part of history today. To be here with the president as well is a really big deal. And to share it with my son is really special. Now, Fiona, President Trump today at the White House had a bunch of closed-door policy meetings. But just before leaving for South Dakota, he did sign an official presidential proclamation marking July 4, 2026, officially as the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, also highlighting America's historic achievements. Fiona? And, Mari, really quick, what could we expect from the president tonight and tomorrow in his speeches? Sure. So, Fiona, the White House is telling us that President Trump's address tonight will highlight what the world already knows, that America is the greatest, strongest, and most exceptional nation in history. Now, this speech will make President Trump the first sitting U.S. president to speak twice at Mount Rushmore. The last time he spoke was in 2020 here. And here's President Trump previewing his remarks a little bit at the Teddy Roosevelt Library just a couple of days ago in North Dakota. The president says to expect a very long speech tomorrow at July 4. Take a look. We will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. What a document that was. And this week, we look back on 250 years of glorious freedom, and we took so much time and so much effort. And, by the way, on July 4, it's going to be approximately 107 degrees out. And I'm going to go and I'm going to make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything. But this is a time to rediscover the indomitable spirit that built our country and all that will ensure America always remains the most exceptional nation on the face of the earth. We're not going to let communists get in our way. Now, Fiona, we're also expecting President Trump to tout the economy in his speech as gas prices continue to fall to pre-Operation Epic Fury levels after President Trump opened the Strait of Hormuz, signing that Memorandum of Understanding in the Palace of Versailles. The White House also today highlighting that it's been one year tomorrow since the signing of the one big, beautiful bill and highlighting those working families tax cuts. And the last time President Trump was here to speak was exactly six years ago, and that was amid both the COVID pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests. President Trump at that time in those remarks condemned protesters who were defacing monuments across the nation, saying that did injustice to the legacies of the presidents enshrined in granite behind me. Now, we can expect similar remarks from the president tonight, honoring the legacies of those four presidents in the stone behind me at Mount Rushmore. It's a slightly different tone here, as we just heard from the president in that soundbite. He has been saying that this is a very critical time for our nation, repeatedly saying that it's time to choose between communism and common sense here. So there's a lot to be tracking here, and we'll keep you all updated on it on the ground. Fiona, back to you. All right, Mari, thank you so much for the update. Get indoors, get dry, OK? Thank you for the dedication. And the Great American State Fair out on the National Mall is now open again. It closed this afternoon due to extreme temperatures. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, they canceled their Fourth of July parade. Here's NTD's Jason Perry with the details. Paramedics at the Great American State Fair Friday, responding to a patient suffering from an apparent heat-related illness. Temperatures reached 103 degrees in D.C. as eventgoers attempted to take part in the festivities. But attendees were later asked to leave the event as a message played over the loudspeakers. Attention fairgoers, the event has been postponed. We will reopen at 5 p.m. Please refer to Freedom 250 social media for updates. Please proceed to the nearest exit. The Great American State Fair is set to reopen after the temperatures become more bearable. In Philadelphia, the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed was set to hold a Fourth of July parade. But empty floats lining the street on Friday after the city canceled the event due to a forecast of extreme heat with expected temperatures of more than 100 degrees and humidity making it feel like 111. The parade was canceled a day after police said more than 100 people in Pennsylvania were treated for heat-related illnesses as a crowd gathered to see a historic steam locomotive. And Friday, the heat hitting the East Coast with North Carolina, D.C., and even New York City all reaching 100 degree temperatures. An ambulance in a New York suburb responding to a call during the hot weather. So we just got dispatched to a sick party. We didn't get much more information, but I believe they are outdoors in the corner so we are very much going in with the mindset and awareness that this can be a heat-related illness. The first responder explained how the hot weather can affect people. When you have heat like this that's persistent for multiple days in a row, they're never getting the ability to properly recover and it weakens their system and their body's ability to fight and it could quickly progress from heat, you know, just heat cramps and a little bit of dehydration to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and ultimately death. Meanwhile, in New York City, residents seen riding in boats with American flags as others gathered near the water. Well, it's very humid, but when I'm at home, I'm with the A.C. and we're by the water here, it makes a big difference. And we're under the tree, so it does make a big difference. The National Weather Service warns that dangerous heat and humidity will continue through the July 4th holiday. Jason Perry, NTD News. The states from across the country have come to represent themselves in Washington, D.C. We've now got Chris Chapman, Program Manager for Reefs Across America Radio, representing Maine at the Great American State Fair. Chris, it's great having you on tonight. Thank you for joining us. I want to start with a clip from the president discussing his excitement ahead of the festivities tomorrow. Here's what President Trump had to say. Watch. We'll celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. What a document that was. And this week, we look back on 250 years of glorious freedom. And we took so much time and so much effort. And by the way, on July 4th, it's going to be approximately 107 degrees out. And I'm going to go and I'm going to make a really long speech. All right, Chris, so we're more than a week already into this historic state fair. How has it been representing the state of Maine at this historic time? Oh, Fiona, it's been great. When we found out the opportunity arised that we could be there and step in and show folks about Reefs Across America and what we do and to be able to represent Maine, it was great. So, you know, yes, it's been hot and we're all a little jealous of Mari and her hail. And that's happening in South Dakota right now because, yeah, we saw, you know, 112 feels like, 113 feels like in D.C. So it was good of the event for them to shut that down because it was a safety issue today. And for them to really make sure that they were watching out for the people who were there and not just the people who were attending, but those who were working and the National Guard and the folks who were watching over the event as well. Absolutely. Safety always comes first. But we're seeing so many people here visiting D.C. to celebrate the 250th. Tell us more, what is it like interacting with people from all across the country, even all across the world, and seeing how this celebration is bringing out the best of the country? It is wonderful to see. And we spoke with numerous folks who are from all over the country. One gentleman stopped by the booth today we did an interview with. He is covering the country completely blind. The man can't see anything. And he stopped by and he's visiting I think now 30 states, he said, out of the 50. And his goal is to go to all 50 states. Just talking to him today and the absolute admiration you can have for someone like that as he is taking this journey on himself just to meet people across the country is unifying. And that's what we're finding at this event, that folks are coming in, they're patriotic, they're loving their country, they're loving the events. He, yes, can get to folks here and there, but that's okay. They'll get past that. And we just, I was talking to one woman today. And I said, you know what, we just need one big hug. So we hugged it out and everything was great. So folks are really happy that this event is happening on the National Mall. Yeah, Chris, I was at the fair a few days ago, actually, and you're absolutely right. I very much admired how proud every worker at each state booth was. It was really great to see. And I'm sure you've also been seeing the flyovers we've been having today. The jets are really showing what they're capable of ahead of the celebrations. So to you, what do those flyovers represent about the military's role when it comes to protecting the country and preserving American freedoms? Well, as a former air show director and someone who worked closely with the jet teams, it is the sound of freedom. There's no question. I'm also a Blue Star dad. My son is a Coast Guard Academy graduate. He's also a pilot for the Coast Guard. So for me to be able to hear the sound of freedom as it was buzzing over Washington, D.C., it gives me a chance to think of Ben and to think of all of our brave soldiers and airmen and airwomen, all the folks who are out there who are protecting our country. It's going to be quite a show tomorrow, looking at the schedule, seeing everything from the V-1 to the V-2, the F-35, Blue Angels, Thunderbirds. It's going to be quite a show. So it scared a few people, but it was always fun to see them afterwards when one of the jets would fly low and make a big noise. And we all had a big laugh over that. I've got to say the first flyover took me a little bit by surprise, too. I was a little scared, too. But Chris, as we all prepare to celebrate across the country, I think it's also important, how should we be remembering the sacrifices made by those who served in the armed forces and their families? No question, Fiona. And what we do at Wreaths Across America is we remember those who are no longer with us. That is our primary goal. Remember, honor, and teach. And as you look out, whether it be at a cemetery or a monument or you see a soldier standing there protecting a monument or maybe just standing guard or maybe just eating lunch, we think about the freedoms that we have. And we always say that freedom isn't free. And for those men and women who are serving in our armed forces today, those that have served, those who are no longer with us, just keep them in mind as you are doing your July 4th festivities. When we do grill the hot dogs, we do go to the parade. We do go to the Great American State Fair. We stop by and see a gentleman in uniform. You see a gal in uniform. Give them a thank you. Say thank you. But not only say thank you for their service, thank them for their freedom. Great advice. Chris Chapman, thank you so much for joining us tonight. You bet, Fiona. Thanks for having us. And happy 4th of July. Oh, I think we cut out there. That's all right. Moving on, military jets soaring through the skies over D.C. as the nation's capital is gearing up to celebrate America's 250th birthday. NTD's Sam Wong was out at the Great American State Fair to get people's reactions. So how does it feel to be celebrating America's birthday here at the Great American State Fair? I mean, it's pretty amazing if you ask me. I mean, the line outside is insane. The security is taking the longest part, honestly, to get in. But other than that, like, it's just great. Like, everybody just, you know, always just blasts issues about this country. And I'm like, then get out, you know? We're just so happy to be here. Just seeing everything that America has produced over 250 years. People are great. Everybody's patriotic, and we're just proud to be here. No place I'd rather be than right here in D.C. on 250. Freest country on the face of the planet. 250 years. We've invented democracy. Why wouldn't you want to be here? It was like 10.30. We were in line to get inside the fair, and the National Guard was walking in. Everyone stopped and clapped for them. We're proud of America. I've called my parents multiple times and said, Y'all need to get on a flight here tonight. Be here for tomorrow. You caught a glimpse of the Wings of Freedom show? A little bit from the line because it was an hour and a half to get in. How does that make you feel about being an American? It feels great. Honestly, it feels great. Like, just the flyover, I've never seen that before. Lived in D.C. now for a little bit over a year and a few months. So, honestly, like, it's great. America's strength in our armed forces flying above us. Amazing. We got the hardware, that I can tell you. It was worth getting here just for that. How does that make you feel being an American? So proud. Everybody should be proud. We were around for 17, the bicentennial, and we are so excited to be here today. Every time there's a flyover, every two minutes, not even two minutes, two seconds, there's a flyover, everyone just stops and stares and tries to find out where they are. We just want to see it. Every two minutes, we're here for it. Like, it goes to the American core of your soul. That thing in you that makes you cry when you sing the national anthem, it literally brings goosebumps. It just makes you want to cry. You know, we've got more freedoms than any other country in the world. You know, we're more tolerant than a lot of other countries. It's a beautiful country, and we love it. And NTD will bring you special coverage of the Freedom 250 Salute to America celebration taking place in the nation's capital this 4th of July. It'll be packed with tributes to the country, the people, and the trailblazers who helped define our national identity, bringing America's legacy to life on stage. Plus, a fireworks show that Freedom 250 says will be the biggest in history. Our coverage starts at 7 p.m. Eastern. And you're now looking at a live shot of the National Mall. On the eve of this historic celebration, we must ask, what makes being an American worth celebrating? We'll be diving into that after this break. Are you sitting at home living in pain? Maybe it's in your hands, maybe your back or your hips. The good news is you don't need to live in pain. Why? Because there is Omega XL, a one-of-a-kind, natural, powerful joint relief supplement created from the green-lipped mussels of New Zealand. Drug-free, non-habit-forming, it's small, easy to swallow, and it's backed by more than 40 years of clinical research. If you're experiencing daily aches and pains due to aging and overuse, try Omega XL. Just ask anybody who uses it. The results are undeniable. I had a lot of joint pain, and that slowed me down. I had considerable pain in my back. Really, really felt the pain, I mean, in my ankles and in my heels. 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So go to MyPillow.com or call the number on your screen. Use this promo code to get MyPillow mattresses and toppers for as low as $99.98 and free shipping. Welcome back. I'm Fiona G. Tomorrow, we'll be celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence. Joining us now to discuss this is Victoria Churchill, a political reporter at the Daily Mail. Victoria, great having you on. Let's start with a clip here from the president discussing what the founders of this nation really hoped to achieve as they drafted the Declaration of Independence. Watch. A government that was honest and accountable was the number one demand of the Declaration of Independence. They want honesty. They want respect. And on this anniversary, we recommit ourselves to upholding that righteous legacy, and that's why... So, Victoria, as someone who made the decision to become an American, what was it about this country that made citizenship so meaningful to you? Well, thank you so much for the question. Thanks so much for having me on today. You know, I absolutely love being an American. I think it's absolutely wonderful to be here on this nation's 250th anniversary, particularly because where my parents come from, my parents both grew up in the former Soviet Union. My mom in Russia and my dad in Ukraine. And, you know, I think it just makes me so much more appreciative of our freedoms here in the U.S. Of course, one that I exercise all the time or one that I partake in is the freedom of the press, just through my job, you know, through being on shows like this, the freedom of speech and, you know, the First Amendment is really critical. But I think also even other amendments like the Second Amendment, of course, is so important because I think we see even in nations that we're traditionally allied with that don't have the Second Amendment to protect their First Amendment freedoms. We see those being infringed upon even in countries like England, for example. And, you know, Victoria, people from across the world realize and understand that the U.S. is a country really unlike any other out there. What is it exactly about America that enables people to succeed and achieve their goals? I mean, I think it's the fact that you can reinvite yourself and you can keep reinventing yourself. You know, I've had a number of different jobs just throughout the past 10 years or so of my career, being from working in politics to then being a reporter. And I think just that idea that in America you can be whoever you want to be and achieve whatever you want to achieve, I think that's so unique. And, you know, I have friends that travel and have even gone and lived in other countries, and they say that they don't have, that people that live in those countries don't necessarily have as much of a drive for success and for, you know, entrepreneurship and things like that that we enjoy here in America, I think, quite uniquely. And, you know, many nations have also tried to emulate what America has created here, but many have then also struggled to preserve that self-government over time. What is it about America and the American experiment, rather, that has made this so enduring? I mean, I think a big part of it is what the president himself was just saying in that clip, the fact that we have a government that is accountable to the people. You know, I think work that you and I do as journalists is so critical to that. You know, for me, I love the part of my job where I get to go outside of Washington, D.C., even though primarily I cover Capitol Hill, I also get to be out on the campaign trail quite a bit and actually talk to real voters about what things they're frustrated about. And, you know, a lot of the times that doesn't necessarily match up with what mainstream media outlets are talking about. And, you know, I think that's important to get out there, particularly in the news media. And that's where the freedom of press really shines, right? Absolutely. What's the biggest part of America's promise that you hope is still going to be true in the years to come? Again, I think just the idea of wherever you were born in life isn't where you have to end up. I think that in so many other nations, you know, how you're born determines where you're going to be in life. And in America, that's just absolutely not true. And I think that this idea of reinventing yourself is so critical. And, you know, just the idea of really paving your own opportunities, I think, is also very freeing in itself. When we talk about freedom, I think the ultimate freedom is freedom of choice and freedom of how you live your life. And people that live in so many other countries around the world don't get to enjoy that. And I think that that's something that we need to preserve, you know, across the world. You know, we see people that don't have those opportunities. And I think in the U.S. we are uniquely positioned to do that. And so when I see, you know, even in my home state of Virginia, if there's infringement upon just the different pathways that people can have to success, whether that's, for example, cutting of gifted and talented programs in high school, that they're trying to kind of make a uniform system of education that doesn't really take people's skills, for example, into consideration of what they want to achieve in life and give them the opportunities to pursue that. I think it's important to highlight that. And, you know, again, going back to where my family's from, in communist countries, people are treated like everybody is exactly the same and there's no idea of individualism that people tap into. And so I think that is uniquely American. Absolutely. And we're almost out of time here, Victoria, but I got to ask, what have you got planned for tomorrow? I am going to be joining some great friends over at the Kennedy Center. They've graciously invited me to watch the fireworks from their rooftop. So I'm very excited to do that. You know, I'm also excited that I will be around some air conditioning. So that's definitely another perk as well, as well as the views are definitely going to be great. I think one of the barges where the fireworks are coming off are going to be right off there in the river. So it's going to be a great event, I think. Absolutely. And I'm hearing it's going to be like no other. Victoria Churchill, thank you so much for joining us and happy Fourth of July. Thank you so much. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we look to the enduring principles that forged that founding document. Joining me to discuss is author of The Spirit of Philadelphia, Chris Gibson. Chris, it's really great to have you on with us today. Great to be back. None of the early lawmakers knew what the laws they were enacting were really going to result in. But, you know, they were all driven by the belief that all men are created equal and that all of them are endowed with the unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. How is that still echoing through to today? Well, I think it's always been our North Star. That declaration, the spirit of that declaration, then is carried over at the convention. And for every generation, it's been incumbent upon us to take hold of this dream, this American dream, and make it our own. And so what you've seen across our entire history is a constant movement towards, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, the arc of justice is long, but it bends. The arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice. And really, he was pointing to us. He actually called our founding the magnificent founding. And, you know, he referred to our declaration as like a promissory note, like a check, redeemable by all. So, you know, he and somebody who fought for equal rights. But it really comes from the beginning. It really comes from those summoning words, some of the most consequential words ever penned by humans. And it comes out of this declaration that we're going to celebrate here tomorrow, 250 years. And Chris, I know you've written a book sort of along these lines. How can Americans ensure that this same spirit we're talking about here survives for another 250 years? Well, I hope they read it and think about the spirit of Philadelphia, because there are some important gems in there. It really starts from a keen understanding of who we are as a species, right? It looks at human nature and really concludes, I think, realistically, that we are conflicted. Yes, capable of love and sacrifice, amazing things. But if we're being brutally honest, we also have lesser angels in us. And that's why they actually separate, decentralize, separated power and kept it checked, transparent and accountable. These principles carried into our Constitution for our young republic. These principles are time honored. And I think it's important that we recover, because over time, we've really centralized power. And to the extent that we no longer are required to work together. And what I argue in the book is that requirement to work together by separating power, if you want to get change, you got to work together. That actually created spirit. We all have a feeling for this. You know, if you play on sports teams or if you work for a company that's really done hard tasks. When humans come together and achieve difficult tasks, when they work together across all imaginable backgrounds, it creates spirit. And that's something we need to recover. We really need to rekindle the spirit, the spirit of Philadelphia. But I'm confident we will. President Trump has been echoing some of these ideas. I want to play a clip here from the president who has a message to Americans for Independence Day. Listen. As we enter the 250th year, Americans must never forget we are a historic and heroic people with a heroic spirit and a heroic purpose. And in this world, we are a very special group. American courage won our independence. It liberated millions and millions from slavery. Rescued billions from tyranny and sustained American liberty for two and a half centuries. What values do you think specifically have been demonstrated throughout American history? And how do Americans continue to embody those values? It's this idea that before God, we are all equal. Yes, it's true. As humans, we have, there's remarkable differences between all of us. We actually cherish those differences. So we know we're never going to have, like, pure equality. But before God, before the law, which really means that for each and every one of us, we should treat all citizens with dignity and respect. You know, when we do that, when that's our standing point, our starting point, and realizing that we should give the benefit of the doubt to folks, even folks we may politically disagree with, recognize that we may disagree with them, but they're still an American. And, you know, this is something we can rally around. So that is important value. That value of where we start, you know, this idea of equality before the law, equality before God, that's a real, as I mentioned, that really was our North Star. And that has helped us through very difficult times to move forward. Other values is really the value of hard work, the dignity that comes from hard work, and how much, how focused we are on prevailing. So, you know, winning is also part of our spirit because we believe it's part of the human spirit that we want to make a positive difference for our families, for our communities, for our country, and for the world. And I think when you look at our history, that value has really resonated. I mean, certainly, again, I acknowledge our past sins, things that we've done. We're human. We've made mistakes. But when you look at all countries' histories and you compare it to us, you will see that we really changed the arc of history. And so on all days, but especially tomorrow, we ought to put down our partisan swords and just cherish our union and just be thankful. It doesn't mean we're trying to homogenize thought, by the way. We'll go back to have spirited debate about, you know, things are important, the policy. Of course, we don't want to change that. We're actually proud of that. What we do need to rally around is this value of peaceful evolutionary change, and that is the Constitution. The Constitution gives us the process that we can bring about change and honoring that process. So I think that's another value that we have is just a belief. We value republics. We really value citizens and our ability to be self-governing. Before we go here, I got to ask, what are your plans for this Fourth of July? So I'm going to be the guest speaker for my home village. I grew up here in a working-class family. You may know I spent 29 years in the U.S. military, combat veteran, 82nd Airborne Division Battalion and Brigade Commander. But, you know, I'm also a citizen, and I serve. And so tomorrow they asked me to be the guest speaker for the village of Kinderhook, a small village, about 2,000 souls here. It's actually the village that our eighth president, Martin Van Buren, was born in and grew up in. In fact, we sometimes use the word okay as in that's okay. And many people believe that that actually started with Martin Van Buren. And it was a saying, okay, oh, Kinderhook, somebody you can trust. So I believe Ripley's, believe it or not, carries it that way, too. So I'm going to be that guest speaker. And then I'll be with family and friends, which I think so many viewers are going to do the same thing. So I don't think I'm doing anything out of the ordinary. It's just I'm being very present and grateful that to be born American is to win the lottery of life and just being thankful for that. Former Congressman Chris Gibson, absolute pleasure talking to you. Enjoy your Fourth of July. Stay cool out there, all right? Thank you. Yep, same to you. Best wishes. Moving on, could foreign influence from China be slowing American AI data center projects? A new report says that's exactly what's happening. Find out more tonight on China In Focus with Tiffany Meyer at 9.30 p.m. Eastern time. And you're now looking at a live shot of the National Mall where a contest is showing off the artistic talents of the nation's youth. Stay tuned to see new portraits of America's heroes. Somehow I let the time go. I don't know how to get here. 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. We come from a long line of farmers and there's a sense of pride in being part of these multigenerational businesses. But there's also a significant amount of pressure. My senior year of high school, my dad made the decision that this world no longer needed him in it. I don't know if he was overwhelmed by the bills and checks that weren't going to be coming in because of the strawberries dying off. But it breaks my heart that my dad made a permanent decision for a temporary issue. Don't feel like you have to go through it alone. Farmers have to take care of their physical and their mental health because what's a farm without a farmer? The mornings, that's my time. Watching the sun come up, I can have a cup of coffee and exercise if I want to. It helps me start the day with a sense of gratitude. Every day is a new opportunity. Don't forget to check in on yourself. Love your mind. Welcome back. I'm Fiona Gee. New portraits of America's heroes. For America 250, the National Endowment for the Humanities is involving the nation's children in celebrating America's history. NTD's Steve Lance spoke with its Senior Programs Officer, Julie Carmine. Julie Carmine, thanks so much for joining us. Thank you for having me today. It's great to have you. So, Julie, what is the American Heroes Student Art Contest all about? The contest is a special encouragement to students across the country in grades 3 through 12. It was a call for entry to submit a work of art about one of 250 American heroes. And these are from a list of 250 American heroes that were named to be honored in the soon-coming National Garden of American Heroes. And these heroes will be honored in sculpture. We ask the students to honor them in two-dimensional works of art, to submit those with an artist statement and a short essay, and describe why these heroes, whichever hero they choose, why that hero means something to them. So when we think of American heroes, like you said, we think of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, many of the early patriots. Can you give us an idea of some of these other folks or who the students are depicting? Absolutely. We did receive many entries about our founding fathers and our great patriots. In fact, one student submitted an entry that was a state winner of 250 Lincoln pennies arranged beautifully as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln. But we also have a wide range of other heroes. In the exhibition of state winners, you'll see a number of artworks honoring Chief Sitting Bull, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth. We also have several about Teddy Roosevelt. And then leaders in the aerospace industry from NASA, some of the hidden figures, the women who were calculators for NASA are represented. John Glenn, Sally Ride were popular choices as well. It's really impressive. It sounds exciting. Love to be able to see some of this artwork when it's all said and done. Will we be able to? Absolutely. There is an exhibition that's on view right now at the Great American State Fair. It's in the American Canvas Pavilion, which is shared with the Faith and Family Pavilion. And there's a beautiful exhibition that the National Endowment for the Humanities and Freedom 250 has put together. You can see all 132 state winners. So we have winners in every age category, elementary, middle school, and high school. And of all of those categories who submitted, we have a state winner. They're on view according to regions of the country. And you can go through the exhibition. You can read the artist statements, see the artwork. It's quite beautiful. And some people are saying that happens to be their favorite part of the fair. Of course, everyone has their own thing that they really love about the state fair. But we are receiving just remarkable feedback. Some people have been quite choked up reading these artist statements and looking at these beautiful artworks and seeing how our students of today are reflecting on American history and the people who have shaped our country and made it what it is today. It's really such a unique and special way to get students involved and invested personally in it through the arts, too. The National Endowment for the Humanities, along with Freedom 250, supported this exhibition, ultimately, of student work at the fair. How do the humanities fit in with this art contest? A big mission of our work in the humanities is to do rigorous scholarship around history and also history education, civic education. And this is an opportunity for students to reflect on those historical figures, 250 of them, in all sectors of society, in all walks of life. Many different backgrounds are represented on that list. They get to choose one and then write an essay that says why this figure is important to our country, to their community, and to them personally. Tell us more about the judging process for the competition and what is actually being awarded. We put together, along with Freedom 250, in collaboration, we put together a panel of nine subject area experts. So we had art historians, studio artists, art educators, civics educators, who served on this nine-member panel. And they reviewed all of the entries with a rubric and using a point system that evaluated for artistic skill, creativity, historical relevance, and also the quality of the essay. And so there was a really wonderful system in place for giving scores. Second Lady, Mrs. Ucha Vance, agreed to be one of our distinguished judges among four distinguished judges. And those other ones include CEO of Freedom 250, Keith Kroc, also artist and philanthropist, Trish Sugan, and the NEH acting chairman, Bill English. All of them looked very carefully at the 15 regional finalists. That's five in every age category, elementary, middle, and high school. And they ranked and rated the five top ones to choose the national winners. So the national winners and the regional winners will be announced at our awards ceremony, which is happening at the U.S. Department of Agriculture on July the 8th. I'm very excited. And the winners in every state received a trip to Washington, D.C. Senior programs officer at the National Endowment for the Humanities, Julie Carmi, thank you so much for joining. Thank you for having me here, Steve. It's been a joy and honor to be with you today. And you're now looking at a live shot of the White House. A brand-new exhibition celebrating heroes of the American Revolution is on display at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. We'll give you a firsthand look when we come back. Hi, my name is Brady. When I was born, my parents thought everything was okay. My mom and dad were so excited to take me home. I still get goosebumps telling this story. Several days in, his skin started to become very cold and clammy. We noticed that he had become blue around his mouth, and something was just very off. We packed up as fast as we could. Brady stopped breathing twice on the way to the pediatrician. And that was one of the number one things that just haunts me to this day. I was born with a congenital heart defect called aortic coarctation. If my parents waited just one more hour to drive me to the hospital, I would not be here today. But thanks to research funded by the American Heart Association, I had heart surgery that saved my life. But not every kid is as lucky as me, which is why we need your help. Just call the number on the screen or go to helpheart.org. For only $19 a month, just 63 cents a day, you can help get people trained in CPR, get more hospitals certified in high quality cardiovascular care, and help fund the next medical breakthroughs to help save kids like me. When you donate to the American Heart Association, you're helping save lives like my son. And now my son is happy and healthy thanks to the support of people like you. When you call with your $19 a month, you'll get this really cool t-shirt as a thank you. Many children die from congenital heart defects. I can't wait to grow up to become a heart surgeon and fix babies' hearts, but until then, I'll keep helping the American Heart Association. So please join me. Just call the number on your screen or go to helpheart.org to become a monthly donor and help save lives. Whispered across generations, a hidden secret unveils the essence of longevity and vitality, a timeless legend regarding energy and wonder. Rooted in ancient health wisdom, we proudly introduce Puritang Black Ginseng, a 100% natural, organic energy drink made from premium 6-year-old Korean ginseng. It takes 2,260 days and nights from seed to growth, undergoing a meticulous 9-step process of steaming and drying. Black ginseng reaches its full potency, enriched with ginsenicide RG3 and enhanced absorption efficiency. No sugar, no caffeine, no artificial ingredients. Experience the pure, natural power of Puritang Black Ginseng. Nourish your body, strengthen your immunity, and boost your energy. To order Puritang Black Ginseng, please visit puritang.com. Welcome back, I'm Fiona Ji. New statues honoring heroes of the American Revolution are officially on display just a few blocks from the White House now. President Trump is calling them a celebration of the 250-year triumph of the American spirit. NTD correspondent Jason Blair gives us an up-close look. The Spirit of 76 exhibition honoring the heroes and martyrs of the American Revolution. The Spirit of 76 at Freedom Plaza was unveiled as part of America's 250th birthday celebration. It features a series of statues honoring figures from the American Revolution, including founding father Caesar Rodney, 12 soldiers of the Revolution, a set of reliefs honoring the prison ship martyrs, and a central bronze statue titled Spirit of Liberty. I hope that those that visit this plaza will leave here with that inspiration for the future, believing what those patriots believed, believing that America is always worth building, worth serving, worth sacrificing for. Caesar Rodney was a signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Despite dealing with severe asthma and facial cancer, he rode 18 hours through a thunderstorm to deliver a consequential vote to secure the 13 colonies' independence. And these 12 bronze statues honor the diverse Revolutionary War soldiers who helped win American independence. The figures ranging from free and enslaved black patriots like Peter Salem and Jude Law to leaders such as Joseph Warren and John Peter Muilenburg. At the center of the exhibit stands a 23-foot bronze statue named the Spirit of Liberty. The figure holds the Declaration of Independence in one hand while raising a sword with the other. Another interesting thing to note is that the Caesar Rodney statue is identical to one that was on display in Rodney Square in Wilmington, Delaware. It was taken down in 2020. City officials cited fear of potential vandalism following the George Floyd protests. When it happened, President Trump called the removal a, quote, part of an ongoing radical purge of America's founding generation. The Spirit of 76 exhibit is also part of the Trump administration's Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative started in March of 2025. Reporting in Washington, D.C., Jason Blair, NTD News. As the nation prepares to celebrate America's 250th birthday, history is rolling across the country. The Freedom Trek initiative is sending six state-of-the-art mobile museums to schools, festivals, fairs, and community events. They're bringing the story of America's founding to people who may never get to visit Washington, D.C. Interactive exhibits trace the path from the 13 colonies to independence. They spotlight pivotal Revolutionary War moments and invite visitors to test their civics knowledge. You can even add your name to a digital declaration of independence. The traveling exhibits are scheduled to make nearly 100 stops through 2027. Organizers say the mission here is simple. Make American history accessible, engaging, and relevant for the next generation. Meanwhile, New York City joining the Nationwide America 250 celebration today in historical fashion. An iconic ball drop. And not only that, New York is hosting over 100 tall ships and naval vessels from around the world. Here's NTD's Arlene Richards, who was at Times Square today with some Navy officers and very proud Americans. The iconic Times Square ball has done something it's never done before in history. For the first time, it has dropped on a day other than New Year's. On this Friday morning at 10 a.m. right here in Times Square, the ball dropped as New York joined the Nationwide celebration of America's 250th birthday. Visitors from across the nation were in Times Square Friday, expressing pride in being Americans. Our family name is Team America, and we've got four kids, and that's what we play trivia under the name Team America. You know, we're very proud down in Florida. We're doing great down there, and we like to see all the states do as well as we do. I think it's awesome. It's beautiful. You know, we're having a great time out here, and I think it's really cool. It's going to be amazing. New York City is the place where we need to be at. The whole nation's going to be watching, the whole nation's going to be celebrating, and it's a big deal, 250 years, our independence. The celebration will wrap up with a traditional countdown to midnight in New York City. Organizers say it will serve as the centerpiece of the historic event. And not to be outdone, members of the U.S. Navy came all the way from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to join the festivities in Times Square. We're absolutely excited to be here for America's 250th birthday. We're happy to be down here in Times Square. Members of the Navy's elite special operations diving team were on hand, waving to curious visitors, including me. We've got our dive tank and a huge interactive piece. We had a lot of families coming through, and we're just sharing the American spirit. The Navy chief said his team is following the America 250 events, including several naval vessels that joined over 100 tall ships at the New York Harbor for what is expected to be the largest international maritime gathering in U.S. history. We're going to literally have hundreds of boats, one of the largest gatherings of the Navy that we've had since post-war, and it's amazing what's going to be happening here. The event officially kicked off on Friday afternoon when a parade of Class B tall ships from fleets around the world sailed down the East River. They are expected to arrive in Brooklyn, where they will anchor. The larger vessels will sail the Hudson River in the main parade of ships on July 4th at 9.30 a.m. from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the George Washington Bridge. The tall ships will remain docked in New York for public viewing through July 7th. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. Arlene Richards, NTD News. That's all we have for you tonight on The Capitol Report. Stay connected to the stories that matter. Visit us at ntd.com slash live or download our NTD app. From the nation's capital, I'm Fiona Ji. Happy 4th of July, and we'll see you back here on Monday.