Looking Forward to the 250th Celebration of July the Fourth

NBC News poll https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/different-worlds-americans-see-huge-divide-haves-nots-new-poll-shows-rcna350523 …A majority of Americans (54%) say most Americans share the same core values but disagree about policies and issues, while 44% say most Americans have fundamentally different core values, according to the survey, which was sponsored by More Perfect, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing democracy. There are notable splits along some lines, including age and geography. But even those are overshadowed by the overwhelming shares who see sizable divisions between Republicans and Democrats (80%) and between the wealthy and the not wealthy (81%). Do you think people from these backgrounds have more that unites them than divides them, or vice versa? More than unites – Not sure – More that divides Women and men 60% …. 38% People of different races/ethnic backgrounds 59% …. 39% Immigrants and U.S.-born citizens 55% …. 43% People who went to college and did not 50% … 48% Young people and older people 46% …. 52% People in cities and rural areas 43% …. 55% Republicans and Democrats 18% …. 80% Wealthy people and not wealthy people 17% …. 81% Notes: The poll was conducted May 29-June 7 and surveyed 3,000 adults nationally. The margin of error is plus or minus 1.8 percentage points. Some questions were asked of a half-sample, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. Source: NBC News poll …Still, most Americans say they feel disconnected from those in power, according to the NBC News poll, which was conducted by Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies and Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates. An overwhelming share of respondents — 82% — agree that most ordinary Americans, regardless of political party, have more in common with one another than with people in the country who hold a lot of power. And some voters believe wealthy Americans have far more access to that power. “When it comes to politics, those that have money are able to actually have a voice that is heard and have opinions that matter, versus those of us that don’t have money,” said Amanda Larson, a 50-year-old independent from Minnesota who works in childcare. “Our opinions don’t matter. What we need doesn’t matter.” Many Americans also believe those with wealth effectively operate under a different system of justice, with 86% agreeing that in the U.S., wealthy people can often avoid consequences that ordinary people would face for the same actions. “Laws and rules don’t apply to people if they can just pay their way out of it,” said Ann, a 26-year-old Democrat from Kansas who is unemployed. Inflation - Gas Price https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/gas-prices-iran-war-state-national-cost-trump-rcna265835 Average gas prices have increased more than a dollar since the U.S. and Israel first attacked Iran. In five states — Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington — average gas prices are at or near $5 per gallon. In California prices are near $6, the highest in the nation. States toward the middle of the country are paying the least, according to AAA data. According to one analysis, the increase in gas prices since the start of the war has cost Americans more than $30 billion. The Cost of the Iran War https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/iran-war-cost-25-billion-dollars-us-munitions-hegseth-armed-services-rcna342714 Iran war has cost the U.S. $25 billion so far, Pentagon official says Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst said most of the costs came from munitions. April 29, 2026, 10:55 AM CDT / Updated April 29, 2026, 2:10 PM CDT By Alexandra Marquez A top Pentagon official said Wednesday that the cost of the ongoing U.S. war with Iran is estimated to be $25 billion so far, as the conflict nears a 60-day mark. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/heat-wave-temperature-danger-rcna352470