America in the balance

This is a special bonus edition of MS NOW Daily |

VIEW IN BROWSER Saturday, Jul. 04, 2026 Welcome to a special edition of the MS NOW Daily newsletter.   On the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, MS NOW’s series “America in the Balance: The Fight for Our History and Future” features eight writers wrestling with our country’s promises and contradictions. Baptist minister Brian Kaylor expresses approval that ours is not a Christian nation. Tom Ginsburg, an expert on the world’s constitutions, imagines a new Constitution for the U.S., and Sheryll Cashin celebrates the founders who spoke out against slavery from the start.   Deborah Archer suggests a civil rights framework that would honor the Declaration of Independence, and Helaine Olen explains why the pursuit of happiness is increasingly hard to afford. Anthony Fisher longs for a less partisan semiquincentennial, and retired Marine fighter pilot Richard Westmoreland explains his ambivalence on this 250th anniversary. Christian Schneider, who champions America’s greatness, argues that our government deserves only a little credit for it.   America is not just a country; it’s an experiment, and these writers have thoughts on how it’s working out.   —  Jarvis DeBerry, editor THE ESSAYS What Christian nationalists are hoping we’ll forget about America BRIAN T. KAYLOR The Christian nationalist version of the founding of the United States represents a deliberate attempt to forcibly baptize America and transform the nation into something it isn’t — and something the founders never intended it to be. Read more.   The U.S. Constitution is remarkable — but what would it look like if we rewrote it today? TOM GINSBURG The idea of a national constitution is the United States’ enduring gift to the world, but the document has anomalies that make little sense. Read more.    The truth about our country’s founding Trump keeps trying to bury SHERYLL CASHIN Some of the founders were willing to give up the benefits of white supremacy. It is important at this moment that we remember them. Read more.    The Declaration of Independence’s promise of liberty falls short. There’s only one way to fix it. DEBORAH N. ARCHER Not only do we need to restore the Voting Rights Act, but we also need more similarly constructive civil rights laws that reorient our racial justice framework. Read more.   America at 250 has a trillionaire. And a government making it harder for millions to eat. HELAINE OLEN Americans have rarely faced inequality like this. Our president is telling us to just get over it. Read more.    We should be exalting this major American milestone. Instead we’ve got Trump’s Great American State Fair. ANTHONY L. FISHER The administration’s weak attempt to commemorate our 250th year has so far been a nonevent, attended by extraordinarily few, and focused on divisiveness and exclusion instead of the unity we need. Read more.   I want America to go back to being the country I fought for RICHARD WESTMORELAND, LT. COL. MARINE CORPS (RET.) I don’t think the average U.S. citizen appreciates the sheer luck involved in the founding of our nation. But we can’t count on luck to get us back to where we need to be. We need a renewed commitment to the American idea. Read more.   America is bigger than its government — and Trump CHRISTIAN SCHNEIDER As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, it is important to recognize that our nation’s greatness isn’t the result of legislative or executive action, but in the things we actually do together. Read more. 229 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036 PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE

How Trump’s ego took over D.C.’s fireworks

Plus, acting DNI Bill Pulte's firing spree

VIEW IN BROWSER MS NOW DAILY Understand today's news Saturday, Jul. 04, 2026   THE LATEST Washington, D.C., is not just a backdrop for Trump’s spectacles By Ryan Teague Beckwith Washington, D.C., is not just a backdrop for Trump’s spectacles By Ryan Teague Beckwith Washington, D.C., makes a great movie set: the imposing Lincoln Memorial, the instantly recognizable White House, the obligatory cutaway shot of the Potomac River. That may be why President Donald Trump is so interested in using it as a backdrop to his increasingly grandiose spectacles. His latest stunt is an unprecedented 40-minute pyrotechnics show that aims to break the Guinness World Record. Organizers aim to launch more than 850,000 fireworks — compared to the 7,000 at the 2025 show. Look, I love fireworks, but this is excessive. Large pyrotechnic displays already leave behind air pollution, scatter debris through parks and waterways, stress pets and wildlife and trigger veterans with PTSD. Those costs are real but manageable. This display, however, magnifies them on a staggering scale — and it was announced at the last minute and is overseen by the administration that couldn’t even paint a pool blue.   This is a preview of a column by Ryan Teague Beckwith. Read the full column here.  Respond directly to Ryan Teague Beckwith’s column by submitting a letter to the editor through this form. Read our submission guidelines here.  Respond directly to Ryan Teague Beckwith’s column by submitting a letter to the editor through this form. Read our submission guidelines here.  TOP STORIES RICHARD WESTMORELAND, LT. COL. MARINE CORPS. (RET.) I want America to go back to being the country I fought for The one thing at which the government truly excels is convincing the public of its own importance. It builds monuments to former presidents. Read more. ALLISON DETZEL Rep. Jayapal shares why she is ‘proud’ to be American, even amid Trump’s 250 takeover “It’s really heartbreaking for me to see what this Trump celebration has turned into,” Jayapal, who is one of only 19 naturalized citizens serving in Congress, told MS NOW. Read more. VAUGHN HILLYARD AND DAVID ROHDE Acting DNI Bill Pulte fires dozens of intelligence officials The latest move comes two weeks after Pulte’s arrival at the agency, under orders from President Donald Trump to downsize. Read more. JA'HAN JONES Mamdani’s speech for America’s 250th takes direct aim at MAGA bigotry New York City’s progressive mayor expressed pride in the nation’s founding principles while rebuking oligarchs and federal immigration agents. Read more. TOP VIDEOS MORNING JOE Why Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed believes progressives can win WATCH NOW THE BRIEFING WITH JEN PSAKI Trump's corruption, weak morals raise concern about expected 'pardoning blitz' WATCH NOW THE BEAT WITH ARI MELBER Trump’s takeover of America's 250th anniversary sparks corruption allegations WATCH NOW MORNING JOE Gov. Wes Moore: Democrats cannot cede ‘patriotism’ to Trump WATCH NOW MORE FROM MS NOW As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, a new special digital series from MS NOW examines the country’s complicated past, the battles we are still fighting centuries later, and how we will shape our future. Read “America in the Balance: The Fight for Our History and Future” on MS.NOW. This week on “The Best People,” Nicolle Wallace is joined by Dr. Eddie Glaude to discuss his new book, “America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries,” and the wave of white nationalism that's sweeping the nation. Listen now, and subscribe to MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts for early access, ad-free listening, and bonus content.   MS NOW INSIGHTS Have you ever wanted to share your opinions with MS NOW about our TV programs, podcasts, newsletters, app, website or live events? Now is the chance to have your voice heard! Join the MS NOW Insights Community.     THIS WEEKEND ON MS NOW SATURDAY MS NOW’s “The Weekend” at 7 a.m. ET: Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.)... California Attorney General Rob Bonta… Ken Burns… Nikole Hannah Jones MS NOW’s “PoliticsNation” at 5 p.m. ET: Acting Hawaii Lt. Gov. Keith Regan… President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Janai Nelson   SUNDAY MS NOW’s “Connect with Jacob Soboroff” at 10 a.m. ET: Democratic Candidate for Senate in Michigan Abdul El-Sayed MS NOW’s “PoliticsNation” at 5 p.m. ET: Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.)... Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar… Colorado Attorney General and Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Phil Weiser… Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Mandela Barnes… Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson 229 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036 PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE