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4th of July

7-3-25-v2 | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Joseph Helfenberger | Dreamstime.com | Midjourney

American Dream

69 Percent of Americans Say American Dream Is Not Dead

Americans are increasingly optimistic about their ability to attain the American Dream, according to a new survey.

Autumn Billings | 7.4.2025 8:30 AM

The Supreme Court and the U.S. Capitol, with an American flag-print question mark in between. | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Midjourney

Free Speech

Celebrate Independence Day by Insulting a Politician

Perhaps the one thing Americans still have in common is our eagerness to criticize government.

J.D. Tuccille | 7.4.2025 7:00 AM

A group of immigrants walk by the American flag | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Radek Procyk | Dreamstime.com | Midjourney

Immigration

Independence Day Reminds Us You Can Be American by Choice

Despite our problems, the U.S. offers the sort of freedom, liberty, and opportunity that is anathema to many places around the world.

Billy Binion | 7.4.2025 6:30 AM

The Statute of Liberty stands in front of the American flag | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Midjourney

4th of July

The Fourth of July Is a Celebration of Freedom—From Government

The belief that limited government best protects individual rights turned out to be America’s secret sauce.

John Stossel | 7.4.2025 12:01 AM

Frederick Douglass in black and white against a green and orange background | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | George Kendall Warren |  Midjourney

4th of July

What Frederick Douglass Can Still Teach Us About the Fourth of July

Plus: What songs are on your Independence Day playlist?

Damon Root | 7.3.2025 7:00 AM

A hand holds a small, singed American flag in the air, as it lightly burns. | Mahbub Hasan | Dreamstime.com

Partisanship

Americans Celebrate Independence Day Less Proud of Their Country Than Ever

Too many people elevate their political tribe and its power over all other concerns.

J.D. Tuccille | 7.2.2025 7:00 AM

A whiskey distilling set up in front of the preamble to the United States Constitution | Illustration: Lex Villena;  Ioannis Syrigos

Commerce Clause

Rekindle the Spirit of Independence by Legalizing Home Distilling

A modern legal battle challenges the federal ban on distilling alcohol at home—a favorite hobby of the Founding Fathers.

C. Jarrett Dieterle | 7.4.2024 6:00 AM

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former President Donald Trump, and President Joe Biden as seen on "The Real Debate" | Screenshot, X

Election 2024

Biden, Trump, and RFK Jr. Are All Anti-Freedom

Those three presidential candidates are making promises that would have bewildered and horrified the Founding Fathers.

John Stossel | 7.3.2024 12:30 AM

social media Facebook Twitter Instagram censorship free speech federal judge Trump Biden COVID-19 content moderation First Amendment injunction | Photo by Aman Pal on Unsplash

Free Speech

Federal Judge to Biden Administration: Stop Telling Social Media Sites To Limit Free Speech

Plus: Teaching A.I. about the Fourth of July, and more...

Eric Boehm | 7.5.2023 9:30 AM

chat-gpt-revolution | Lex Villena; Maxuser

4th of July

I Asked an A.I. To Help Me Launch the American Revolution

Excerpts from a dialogue with ChatGPT

Jesse Walker | 7.4.2023 7:00 AM

Federal safety regulators say 43 percent of tested fireworks are illegal. God bless America. |  Lunamarina/Dreamstime.com

Freedom

Federal Safety Regulators Say 43 Percent of Tested Fireworks Are Illegal. God Bless America.

Fireworks consumption is at record levels even as fireworks injuries fall.

Christian Britschgi | 7.3.2023 10:00 AM

A close-up on the "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI" inscription held by the Statue of Liberty. | Victor Moussa | Dreamstime.com

4th of July

On Independence Day, Find Common Ground Over Freedom

Pandemic policies, anti-terror efforts, and feuding factions erode Americans’ liberty.

J.D. Tuccille | 7.3.2023 7:00 AM

Fourth of July | Famveldman | Dreamstime.com

4th of July

Free-Range Kids in Virginia, Connecticut, and Illinois Celebrate a Very Special Independence Day

New reasonable childhood independence laws in these states will make it easier for parents to let children enjoy the holiday.

Lenore Skenazy | 7.1.2023 7:00 AM

John Stossel holding up a copy of the US Constitution | Stossel TV

4th of July

How Would You Change the Constitution?

I asked scholars, podcasters, and passersby how they'd change the nation's founding charter. Here's what they told me.

John Stossel | 7.6.2022 5:00 PM

Statue of Liberty in flames | Illustration: Lex Villena; Orlando Jose De Castro Junior

4th of July

Is America Heading for a National Divorce?

Plus: A listener asks about Supreme Court legitimacy, and the editors practice "libertarian Festivus."

Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Christian Britschgi | 7.5.2022 4:20 PM

Highland Park, Illinois Fourth of July shooting. | Kyodonews/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Mass Shootings

Chicago Area Fourth of July Shooting Leaves 6 Dead, Dozens Wounded

Plus: Inflation eats up Americans' savings, copyright officials want to protect your fireworks photos, and more...

Christian Britschgi | 7.5.2022 9:30 AM

thumbnail (12) | DPST/Newscom; Illustration by Lex Villena

4th of July

America's Founders Raged Against Qualified Immunity, Trade Restrictions, and Anti-Immigrant Policies

Hey, we're still mad about those things today!

Eric Boehm | 7.4.2022 8:30 AM

thumb (2) | Lex Villena; Jonatan Stockton /Dreamstime.com

Freedom

Once Again, the Firework Cops Failed To Stop People From Celebrating Freedom With a Boom

Firework seizures and buyback programs won't stop millions of Americans from setting off black-market bottle rockets tonight.

Christian Britschgi | 7.4.2022 7:00 AM

amflag_1161x653 | Reve15 / Dreamstime.com

Brickbats

Brickbat: The Land of the Free

Charles Oliver | 7.7.2020 4:00 AM

DeclarationofIndependence | National Archives.

Volokh Conspiracy

Two Reflections on the American Revolution

I recapitulate why it's important that the American Revolution was not an ethno-nationalist secession movement, and address claims that history would have taken a better course had the Revolution been defeated or never happened.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 7.4.2020 10:45 AM

dunlap_lg (002) | public domain

Crime

What the Declaration of Independence Said and Meant

It officially adopted the political theory of the United States: securing the individual rights of We the People

Randy E. Barnett |The Volokh Conspiracy | 7.4.2020 10:18 AM

July 4th Independence Day | Aleksandar Ilic/agefotostock/Newscom

4th of July

Despite Its Government's Antics, America Has Made Moral Progress in a Difficult Time

That's not the case in countries with authoritarian rulers who want to believe that America is just like them.

Shikha Dalmia | 7.4.2020 8:00 AM

RemySaSStill

4th of July

Remy: Stars and Stripes (Occupational Licensing Parody)

Free Dumb Isn't Free

Remy and Austin Bragg | 7.4.2019 8:21 AM

sipaphotosnine643374 | Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA/Newscom

4th of July

Trump's Militarized Fourth of July Parade Makes America Less Great

We're getting a military parade because Donald Trump wants one. The arguments for leaving our tanks at their bases are far more numerous, significant, and powerful.

Eric Boehm | 7.4.2019 6:46 AM

dephistrm000670 | Design Pics/Newscom

Free Trade

Trump's Proposed Tariffs on Tea and Fireworks Are Doubly Awful on Independence Day

Tariffs on tea have never caused any problems, right?

Eric Boehm | 7.3.2019 6:00 PM

Fireworks | Carlosphotos/Dreamstime.com

4th of July

Here's What's Standing in the Way of Your Independence Day Fireworks

From fireworks task forces to local snitches.

Zuri Davis | 7.3.2019 5:15 PM

White House | Photovs/Dreamstime.com

4th of July

H.L. Mencken on Independence Day: 'We Have Borne Rascality Since 1776, and We Continue To Survive'

The sage of Baltimore on impeachment, the press, and the people

Marion Elizabeth Rodgers | 7.3.2019 9:00 AM

ibphotos351428 | imageBROKER/Jeff Tzu-chao Lin/Newscom

4th of July

Celebrate Limited Government on the Fourth of July

Remember that the Declaration of Independence stands for inalienable rights.

John Stossel | 7.3.2019 12:01 AM

Large image on homepages

4th of July

A Reason to Celebrate This Fourth of July

The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence have helped keep us mostly free.

John Stossel | 7.4.2018 12:01 AM

Large image on homepages | Thomas Cizauskas/John Trumbull/Flickr

4th of July

Facebook Algorithm Flags, Removes Declaration of Independence Text as Hate Speech

The social media site has a difficult time telling the difference between white nationalist ravings and the writing of Thomas Jefferson.

Christian Britschgi | 7.3.2018 4:50 PM

Large image on homepages

Reasontv

Stossel: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

What we should celebrate on Independence Day.

Maxim Lott and John Stossel | 7.3.2018 11:20 AM

Large image on homepages | Jay Mallin/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Tyranny

How the Declaration of Independence Explains Political News in 2018

Complaining about the government never goes out of style.

Ira Stoll | 7.3.2018 12:01 AM

Large image on homepages | Steve Mantell/Dreamstime.com

Fireworks

Legal or Illegal, Fireworks Are More Available Than Ever

Widespread demand, scofflawry, and loosening laws are making firecrackers, fountains, and bottle rockets easier to get.

J.D. Tuccille | 7.3.2018 12:00 AM

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