{"id":4976,"date":"2026-07-03T16:48:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T16:48:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/07\/03\/july-4th-events-threatened-by-heat-wave-and-russia-strikes-on-ukraines-capital\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T16:48:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T16:48:45","slug":"july-4th-events-threatened-by-heat-wave-and-russia-strikes-on-ukraines-capital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=4976","title":{"rendered":"July 4th events threatened by heat wave. And, Russia strikes on Ukraine&#8217;s capital"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"podcast-tools podcast-tools--510318\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 3000;--source-height: 3000\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/85\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F7a%2Ffe9d16a44fbf9dd2d9932ffe799b%2F510318.png\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/100\/format\/png\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F7a%2Ffe9d16a44fbf9dd2d9932ffe799b%2F510318.png\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3000x3000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F7a%2Ffe9d16a44fbf9dd2d9932ffe799b%2F510318.png\" data-format=\"png\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Up First\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"podcast-tools__slugandmodal\">\n<div class=\"podcast-tools__modal\">\n<div class=\"subscribe\" data-sharepop data-selector=\".sharepop.subscribe\">\n          <button>LISTEN &amp; FOLLOW<br \/>\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n<div class=\"podcast-tools__subscribe-links\">\n<div class=\"sharepop-four\">\n<div class=\"sharepop\">\n<ul>\n<li>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/app.npr.org\/aggregation\/510318\" data-analytics-allow-facebook=\"data-analytics-allow-facebook\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"podcast\",\"action\":\"podcast_follow_click\",\"clickName\":\"npr one universal\",\"clickType\":\"podcast follow button\"}'><br \/>\n                          NPR App<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/podcast\/1222114325?mt=2&amp;at=11l79Y&amp;ct=nprdirectory\" data-analytics-allow-facebook=\"data-analytics-allow-facebook\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"podcast\",\"action\":\"podcast_follow_click\",\"clickName\":\"itunes\",\"clickType\":\"podcast follow button\"}'><br \/>\n                          Apple Podcasts<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n                          <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/2mTUnDkuKUkhiueKcVWoP0\" data-analytics-allow-facebook=\"data-analytics-allow-facebook\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"podcast\",\"action\":\"podcast_follow_click\",\"clickName\":\"Spotify\",\"clickType\":\"podcast follow button\"}'><br \/>\n                          Spotify<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/music.amazon.com\/podcasts\/30a74ac6-1cf7-4ac4-bae2-1347e3927b0b\" data-analytics-allow-facebook=\"data-analytics-allow-facebook\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"podcast\",\"action\":\"podcast_follow_click\",\"clickName\":\"amazon music\",\"clickType\":\"podcast follow button\"}'><br \/>\n                        Amazon Music<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iheart.com\/podcast\/28457197\" data-analytics-allow-facebook=\"data-analytics-allow-facebook\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"podcast\",\"action\":\"podcast_follow_click\",\"clickName\":\"iHeart Radio\",\"clickType\":\"podcast follow button\"}'><br \/>\n                        iHeart Radio<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/music.youtube.com\/library\/podcasts?addrssfeed=https:\/\/feeds.npr.org\/510318\/podcast.xml\" data-analytics-allow-facebook=\"data-analytics-allow-facebook\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"podcast\",\"action\":\"podcast_follow_click\",\"clickName\":\"youtube music\",\"clickType\":\"podcast follow button\"}'><br \/>\n                        YouTube Music<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n                        <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/feeds.npr.org\/510318\/podcast.xml\" data-analytics-allow-facebook=\"data-analytics-allow-facebook\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"podcast\",\"action\":\"podcast_follow_click\",\"clickName\":\"rss\",\"clickType\":\"podcast follow button\"}'><br \/>\n                          RSS link<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>              &lt;!&#8211;<\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-placeholder\">\n                Sign up for the [TITLE] Newsletter<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"plusoffering-placeholder\">\n                Get perks with [Podcast Title]+<\/p>\n<p>Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.<\/p>\n<p>                <button>LEARN MORE<\/button>\n              <\/div>\n<p>              &#8211;&gt;\n          <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"storytitle\">\n<h1>July 4th events threatened by heat wave. And, Russia strikes on Ukraine&#8217;s capital<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORYTITLE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"story-meta\" class=\"story-meta has-byline\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one\">\n<div class=\"story-meta__one-inner\">\n<div class=\"dateblock\">\n    <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T07:39:07-04:00\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"date\">July 3, 2026<\/span><span class=\"time\">7:39 AM ET<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/time>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE-INNER\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__ONE\" --><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-meta__two\">\n<div id=\"storybyline\" class=\"storybyline-wrap linkLocation\">\n<div class=\"bucketwrap byline\">\n<div class=\"byline-container--block\">\n<p class=\"byline__name--block\">By\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"byline byline--block byline--has-link\" aria-label=\"Byline\">\n<p class=\"byline__name byline__name--block\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/g-s1-9395\/brittney-melton\" rel=\"author\"><br \/>\n      Brittney Melton<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP BYLINE\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"STORY-META__TWO\" -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"STORY-META\" CLASS=\"STORY-META HAS-BYLINE\" --><\/p>\n<div id=\"headlineaudio\" class=\"storylocation linkLocation\">\n<article id=\"resnx-s1-mx-5880382-1\" class=\"bucketwrap resaudio\" aria-label=\"audio-module\">\n<div class=\"audio-module\">\n<h4 class=\"audio-module-title\">July 4th Heat Wave, Russian Strikes On Ukraine, Future Of Democratic Party <\/h4>\n<div class=\"audio-module-controls-wrap\" data-audio='{\"uid\":\"g-s1-131920:nx-s1-mx-5880382-1\",\"available\":true,\"duration\":732,\"title\":\"July 4th Heat Wave, Russian Strikes On Ukraine, Future Of Democratic Party \",\"audioUrl\":\"https:\/\/prfx.byspotify.com\/e\/play.podtrac.com\/npr-510318\/npr.simplecastaudio.com\/d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632\/episodes\/c4a81895-218c-46c7-802b-e1188d77595a\/audio\/128\/default.mp3?awCollectionId=d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632&amp;awEpisodeId=c4a81895-218c-46c7-802b-e1188d77595a&amp;feed=HMwRVgVt&amp;t=podcast&amp;e=nx-s1-5880382&amp;p=510318&amp;d=732&amp;size=11723381&amp;sc=siteplayer\",\"storyUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/03\/g-s1-131920\/up-first-newsletter-america-250-heat-wave-ukraine-russia-democratic-party\",\"slug\":\"up first newsletter\",\"program\":\"\",\"affiliation\":\"\",\"song\":\"\",\"artist\":\"\",\"album\":\"\",\"track\":0,\"type\":\"segment\",\"subtype\":\"other\",\"skipSponsorship\":false,\"hasAdsWizz\":false,\"isStreamAudioType\":false,\"podcastEpisodeRawType\":\"\",\"podcastEpisodeDerivedPlusType\":\"\"}' data-audio-metrics=\"[]\">\n<div class=\"audio-module-controls audio-module-controls--no-js\">\n            <a class=\"audio-module-listen\" href=\"https:\/\/prfx.byspotify.com\/e\/play.podtrac.com\/npr-510318\/npr.simplecastaudio.com\/d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632\/episodes\/c4a81895-218c-46c7-802b-e1188d77595a\/audio\/128\/default.mp3?awCollectionId=d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632&amp;awEpisodeId=c4a81895-218c-46c7-802b-e1188d77595a&amp;feed=HMwRVgVt&amp;t=podcast&amp;e=nx-s1-5880382&amp;p=510318&amp;d=732&amp;size=11723381&amp;sc=siteplayer&amp;aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer\"><br \/>\n                <b class=\"audio-module-listen-inner\"><br \/>\n                    <b class=\"audio-module-listen-text\"><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"audio-module-cta\"><br \/>\n                            Listen<br \/>\n                        <\/b><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"audio-module-listen-duration\"><br \/>\n                            <span>\u00b7 <\/span><br \/>\n                            <span>12:12<\/span><br \/>\n                        <\/b><br \/>\n                    <\/b><br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n            <\/a><br \/>\n                <time class=\"audio-module-duration\" datetime=\"P12M,12S\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"audio-module-duration__initial-value\">12:12<\/span><br \/>\n                <\/time>\n        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"audio-module-tools\">\n            <a class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-transcript\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/transcripts\/g-s1-131920\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_click_transcript\",\"storyId\":\"g-s1-131920\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-mx-5880382-1\",\"title\":\"July 4th events threatened by heat wave. And, Russia strikes on Ukraine&amp;#39;s capital\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><br \/>\n                <b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Transcript<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/a><br \/>\n        <button class=\"audio-module-tools-toggle\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_open_more_options\",\"storyId\":\"g-s1-131920\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-mx-5880382-1\",\"title\":\"July 4th events threatened by heat wave. And, Russia strikes on Ukraine&amp;#39;s capital\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><br \/>\n            <b class=\"label\">Toggle more options<\/b><br \/>\n        <\/button><\/p>\n<ul class=\"audio-module-more-tools\">\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-download\"><a href=\"https:\/\/prfx.byspotify.com\/e\/play.podtrac.com\/npr-510318\/npr.simplecastaudio.com\/d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632\/episodes\/c4a81895-218c-46c7-802b-e1188d77595a\/audio\/128\/default.mp3?awCollectionId=d52bee4a-b10a-40f8-9417-45064e6b8632&amp;awEpisodeId=c4a81895-218c-46c7-802b-e1188d77595a&amp;feed=HMwRVgVt&amp;t=podcast&amp;e=nx-s1-5880382&amp;p=510318&amp;d=732&amp;size=11723381&amp;sc=siteplayer&amp;aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_download\",\"storyId\":\"g-s1-131920\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-mx-5880382-1\",\"title\":\"July 4th events threatened by heat wave. And, Russia strikes on Ukraine&amp;#39;s capital\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Download<\/b><\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-embed\">\n                    <button data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/g-s1-131920\/nx-s1-mx-5880382-1\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_embed\",\"storyId\":\"g-s1-131920\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-mx-5880382-1\",\"title\":\"July 4th events threatened by heat wave. And, Russia strikes on Ukraine&amp;#39;s capital\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><b class=\"button-inner\"><b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Embed<\/b><\/b><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"audio-embed-overlay\">\n                        <label class=\"embed-label\"><br \/>\n                            <b class=\"label\">Embed<\/b><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/label><br \/>\n                        <b class=\"embed-url embed-url-touch\"><br \/>\n                            <code><b class=\"punctuation\">&lt;<\/b>iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/player\/embed\/g-s1-131920\/nx-s1-mx-5880382-1\" width=\"100%\" height=\"290\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"NPR embedded audio player\"&gt;<\/code><br \/>\n                        <\/b>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"audio-tool audio-tool-transcript\">\n                  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/transcripts\/g-s1-131920\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"audio\",\"action\":\"audio_click_transcript\",\"storyId\":\"g-s1-131920\",\"mediaId\":\"nx-s1-mx-5880382-1\",\"title\":\"July 4th events threatened by heat wave. And, Russia strikes on Ukraine&amp;#39;s capital\",\"type\":\"ondemand\"}'><br \/>\n                    <b class=\"audio-tool-label\">Transcript<\/b><br \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"storytext\" class=\"storytext storylocation linkLocation\">\n<p><em>Good morning. You&#8217;re reading the Up First newsletter.\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/newsletter\/news\" target=\"_blank\">Subscribe<\/a><em>\u00a0here to get it delivered to your inbox, and\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/podcasts\/510318\/up-first\/\" target=\"_blank\">listen<\/a><em>\u00a0to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Today&#8217;s top stories<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Tomorrow marks the 250th birthday of the United States<\/strong>, with Independence Day celebrations planned across the country. But many events are being affected by the intense heat wave stretching from Texas to the East Coast. Some communities have already chosen to cancel or reduce their festivities, including Philadelphia, which shortened its annual Fourth of July parade route.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-131843\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 5270;--source-height: 2964\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5270x2964+0+63\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F99%2F2ae599ff432487ec26d408cf8548%2Fgettyimages-2283193817.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5270x2964+0+63\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2F99%2F2ae599ff432487ec26d408cf8548%2Fgettyimages-2283193817.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"President Trump speaks at a rally kicking off the Great American State Fair last week.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                President Trump speaks at a rally kicking off the Great American State Fair last week, part of the anniversary celebrations organized by White House-backed group Freedom 250.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"edTag\">\n<li>\ud83c\udfa7<strong> It&#8217;s still unclear what will happen in Washington, D.C.<\/strong>, where President Trump has made the anniversary a major focus. NPR&#8217;s Anastasia Tsioulcas tells <em>Up First<\/em>. Capitol Police said they&#8217;ll decide this morning <a href=\"https:\/\/one.npr.org\/i\/nx-s1-5880382:x\" target=\"_blank\">whether the public can attend<\/a> the Capitol Fourth concert and fireworks. Forecasts call for temperatures near 102 degrees, with a heat index as high as 113. A couple of days ago, Trump mentioned at a public event that he plans to deliver a &#8220;really long&#8221; speech on the night of the Fourth, when it is expected to be nearly as hot as it will be during the day.<\/li>\n<li>\u27a1\ufe0f <strong>The heat isn&#8217;t just the forecast.<\/strong> Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee released a 55-page report yesterday accusing Freedom 250 of helping Trump transform America&#8217;s milestone into a &#8220;hotbed of corruption and self-enrichment&#8221; through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/02\/nx-s1-5879162\/freedom-250-report-house-democrats-controversy\" target=\"_blank\">tactics that potentially constitute criminal fraud<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Rescue workers in Kyiv recovered more bodies from an apartment building overnight <\/strong>after it was crushed by a Russian missile yesterday. Officials say that 30 people were killed in the missile and drone strikes on Ukraine&#8217;s capital, which Russia launched in response to Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian oil refineries.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"edTag\">\n<li>\ud83c\udfa7<strong> Residents are deeply shaken<\/strong>, according to NPR&#8217;s Joanna Kakissis, who is in Kyiv. A massive crater now sits beside a kindergarten where a missile struck. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack exposed Ukraine&#8217;s shortage of missile interceptors and <a href=\"https:\/\/one.npr.org\/i\/nx-s1-5880382:x\" target=\"_blank\">renewed his call for Europe to strengthen<\/a> its own defenses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Congress is on its July 4th recess, but lawmakers will soon turn their focus to<\/strong> this fall&#8217;s midterm elections. Democrats are searching for ways to energize their base, and several primaries have revealed growing frustration with the party establishment. In Denver and New York City, democratic socialists have successfully unseated incumbent Democrats who they believe are not left-leaning enough.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"edTag\">\n<li>\ud83c\udfa7<strong> Some candidates were able to unseat Democrats during the primaries by <\/strong>focusing on a core set of issues, NPR&#8217;s Elena Moore says. In large part, they are calling on the Democratic Party to adopt more ambitious economic policies to tackle the affordability crisis. They are also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/01\/nx-s1-5876122\/colorado-primary-election-melat-kiros-democratic-socialist\" target=\"_blank\">vocal about the influence of<\/a> money in politics and criticize elected Democrats for accepting donations from corporate PACs and pro-Israel groups. Even though Democrats broadly agree on key economic issues, there is concern that the positions held by more leftist candidates could <a href=\"https:\/\/one.npr.org\/i\/nx-s1-5880382:x\" target=\"_blank\">muddy their overall message<\/a>. As Democrats try to regain control of the House, appealing to moderate voters will require a balancing act, Moore says.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udfa7 <strong>House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York<\/strong> discusses the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/03\/nx-s1-5879082\/hakeem-jeffries-on-democratic-partys-midterm-future\" target=\"_blank\">Democratic Party&#8217;s midterm future<\/a> with <em>Morning Edition<\/em>&#8216;s Michel Martin.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Living better<\/h3>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-131678\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 1024;--source-height: 576\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x576+0+81\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4f%2Fd3%2Fe01b36fa4ae082997de7eb94d902%2Fgettyimages-2283460821.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1024x576+0+81\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4f%2Fd3%2Fe01b36fa4ae082997de7eb94d902%2Fgettyimages-2283460821.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"People spend time at Washington Square Park during hot weather in New York City on Monday.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                People spend time at Washington Square Park during hot weather in New York City on June 29, 2026.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Sel\u00c3\u00a7uk Acar\/Anadolu\/Getty Images<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Sel\u00c3\u00a7uk Acar\/Anadolu\/Getty Images<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em>Living Better is a <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/series\/1176326550\/living-better\" target=\"_blank\"><em>special series<\/em><\/a><em> about what it takes to stay healthy in America.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It is a scorcher of a holiday weekend, with large swaths of the Midwest and the Eastern U.S. under heat advisories. Heat can be dangerous: hundreds of people in the U.S. die from heat-related illnesses each year. Here are a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/02\/nx-s1-5878429\/heat-wave-stroke-exhaustion-prevention-safety\" target=\"_blank\">few tips from NPR&#8217;s reporting to help<\/a> you stay safe.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"edTag\">\n<li>\ud83e\udd75 Check your medications: Some prescriptions, including certain blood pressure drugs, can increase your risk of heat-related illness by making dehydration worse.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83e\udd75 Know the signs of heat illness: Heat exhaustion can cause fatigue, intense thirst and rapid breathing. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and may include vomiting, seizures and slurred speech.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83e\udd75 Limit time outdoors and stay hydrated: If possible, go outside in the morning or evening when it is cooler, stay in the shade, and bring plenty of water. Water is the best choice, though electrolytes can help if you&#8217;ve become overheated or are doing strenuous activity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">Weekend picks<\/h3>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-130916\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 5404;--source-height: 3038\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5404x3038+0+445\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2F5c%2Fde3bd7734501b20c01a2c7477ac1%2Fgettyimages-667523713.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/5404x3038+0+445\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2F5c%2Fde3bd7734501b20c01a2c7477ac1%2Fgettyimages-667523713.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert hold their trophies after Evert beat Navratilova to win the Women's Singles title at the French Open in 1986.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert hold their trophies after Evert beat Navratilova to win the Women&#8217;s Singles title at the French Open in 1986.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Trevor Jones\/Getty Images Europe<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Trevor Jones\/Getty Images Europe<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Check out what <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/culture\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>NPR<\/strong><\/a><strong> is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83c\udf7f Movies:<\/strong> Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova were the defining women&#8217;s tennis champions of their generation. Now, they are reflecting on their friendship, battles with cancer and retirement in the Netflix documentary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/29\/nx-s1-5874696\/chris-evert-martina-navratilova-tennis-cancer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Chris &amp; Martina: The Final Set<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udcfa TV: <\/strong>Craig Ferguson, the Scotland-born comedian who hosted <em>The Late Late Show<\/em> from 2005 to 2014, has returned to TV with a five-part documentary series on CNN called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/02\/nx-s1-5877416\/craig-ferguson-american-on-purpose-review\" target=\"_blank\"><em>American On Purpose<\/em><\/a>. The series showcases his quirky humor and his appetite for the unpredictable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udcda Books:<\/strong> In Paul Tremblay&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/06\/30\/nx-s1-5874625\/dead-but-dreaming-of-electric-sheep-paul-tremblay-review\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep<\/em><\/a>, a woman must use a video game-like controller to get a man, who is stuck in a vegetative state, across the country.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83c\udfb5 Music:<\/strong> To celebrate the midpoint of the year, a dozen members of NPR Music&#8217;s team have each selected one song and one album <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/02\/nx-s1-5876555\/best-albums-songs-2026-so-far\" target=\"_blank\">they can&#8217;t stop listening to<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"edTag\">3 things to know before you go<\/h3>\n<div id=\"resg-s1-131778\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"--source-width: 1067;--source-height: 600\">\n<p>            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1067x600+0+112\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F47%2F15%2Fb7ba3e3745c4b813e2f834fceafe%2Fwebrns-vr-evangelists2.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1067x600+0+112\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F47%2F15%2Fb7ba3e3745c4b813e2f834fceafe%2Fwebrns-vr-evangelists2.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Geofferey Powell wears a virtual reality headset. (Photo courtesy of Powell)\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Geofferey Powell,  28-year-old multimedia artist and computer scientist, said he was drawn to VRChat for its imaginative potential.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n                    Via Geoffery Powell\/Photo courtesy of Geoffery Powell<br \/>\n                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><br \/>\n        Via Geoffery Powell\/Photo courtesy of Geoffery Powell<br \/>\n    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ol class=\"edTag\">\n<li>As more people form friendships online, the evangelical organization Cru is bringing its ministry to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/02\/g-s1-131124\/christian-missionaries-have-found-a-new-virtual-mission-territory\" target=\"_blank\">VRChat<\/a>. The social platform lets millions of users interact through avatars resembling anime characters, animals, robots and humans.<\/li>\n<li>Swimply, an Airbnb-style company, is letting people rent out pools and other private spaces, such as tennis and basketball courts. The company says private pool reservations have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/03\/nx-s1-5876505\/swimming-pool-rental-sharing-economy-swimply\" target=\"_blank\">topped 275,000 this year<\/a>, up 50% from last year.<\/li>\n<li>Americans were drinking coffee long before they dumped tea into Boston Harbor or fought a war for independence. Colonial coffeehouses served as a hotbed for brewing up plans for revolutionary acts. Here&#8217;s what to know about <a href=\"http:\/\/npr.org\/2026\/07\/03\/nx-s1-5845436\/coffee-july-4-colonies-america-250-1776-boston-tea-party\" target=\"_blank\">America&#8217;s early history of coffee<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><em>This newsletter was edited by <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/people\/1155154221\/majd-al-waheidi\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Majd Al-Waheidi<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"share-tools share-tools--secondary\" aria-label=\"Share tools\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook\"><button class=\"fbStoryg-s1-131920\" data-share-facebook='{\"storyId\": \"g-s1-131920\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"facebook\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Facebook<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard\"><button class=\"storyg-s1-131920\" data-share-flipboard='{\"storyId\": \"g-s1-131920\" }' data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"flipboard\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Flipboard<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-tools__service share-tools__service--email\"><button class=\"share-tools__email-link\" data-story-id=\"g-s1-131920\" data-metrics-ga4='{\"category\":\"share\",\"action\":\"share\",\"clickName\":\"email\"}'><b class=\"share-tools__service-name\">Email<\/b><\/button><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"SHARE-TOOLS SHARE-TOOLS-SECONDARY\" ARIA-LABEL=\"SHARE TOOLS\" --><br \/>\n<!-- END ID=\"NEWSLETTER-ACQUISITION-CALLOUT-DATA\" DATA-NEWSLETTER=\"{&amp;QUOT;NEWSLETTERID&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;NEWS&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;TITLE&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;UP FIRST&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;MARKETINGHEADER&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;SIGN UP FOR NPR&#039;S UP FIRST NEWSLETTER&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;FREQUENCY&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;EVERY DAY&amp;QUOT;,&amp;QUOT;SHORTDESCRIPTION&amp;QUOT;:&amp;QUOT;THE STORIES YOU NEED TO START YOUR DAY, HAND-PICKED FOR YOU EVERY WEEKDAY. 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