July 4th Heat Wave, Russian Strikes On Ukraine, Future Of Democratic Party

Happy almost birthday, America. Tomorrow, The United States turns 200 50 years old. And parts of the country may feel like it's 250 degrees. A heat wave from Texas to the East Coast is already forcing cities to cancel parades and fireworks. I am Michelle Martin. That's a Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. The death toll from Russia's attack on Kyiv is climbing. Ukraine's president says more air defenses could have saved lives. And Democrats are hoping to win back the house this fall, but a fight within the party could get in the way. Progressive and Democratic socialist upsets are energizing voters in blue cities. The worry is whether that message can win in the places Democrats actually need to take back the majority. Stay with us. We've got news you need to start your day. This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Savor card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One, what's in your wallet? Terms apply. Details at capital1.com. This message comes from Dell Technologies. Get long lasting battery life on the Dell XPS laptop powered by series three Intel Core. Now from $699 with exclusive student pricing from $599. Visit dell.com/deals. This message comes from Fisher Investments. Senior vice president Michael Hosmer explains the importance of providing a comprehensive approach for clients. From investment management to tax minimization to estate planning, you name it. We have a sizable, deep team with a diverse skill set, decades of knowledge and experience in the financial markets, and that team is who actually develops and deploys the plan for each of our clients. Learn more at fisherinvestments.com. Investing in securities involves the risk of loss. Today is the eve of the two hundred and fiftieth birthday of The United States. Tomorrow, there will be celebrations of Independence Day, large and small, all across the country, many of which are being affected by intense heat. NPR culture correspondent Anastasia Sioukas has been tracking the festivities across The US. So what are some of the difficult choices, some people are gonna have to make about public events? Well, that heat wave is extending from Texas all the way up and down the East Coast, and officials across much of the country are going to have to make some tough decisions potentially at the last minute. But some places have already decided to cancel or cut back on their festivities. The city of Philadelphia, which, of course, is central to our independence story, has already decided to substantially cut its annual fourth of July parade route. Many communities in Colorado, like Durango and Vail, have canceled their fireworks displays due to the risk of wildfires. And it's not clear yet what's gonna happen in Washington DC where president Trump has, of course, been emphasizing this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. Yeah. That's the big spot that everyone's looking at because the great American state fair is out there and on the …