Some July 4th traditions endure better than others. We’ll always have fireworks, parades, and family picnics, it seems. But there was also a time when presidents offered eloquent speeches on America’s birthday — ones aimed at fostering unity and gratitude. And who can deny we could use more of that in such fractious times? Sure, few of us would clamor for another presidential speech. But in an age where we’re losing a sense of who we are and the significance of our heritage, it’s a tradition worth renewing, especially with our 250th anniversary on the horizon. Both Abraham Lincoln and Calvin Coolidge delivered particularly notable July 4th speeches. In his opening, Coolidge noted that, “It is to pay our tribute of reverence and respect to those who participated in such a mighty event that we annually observe the fourth day of July.” The event, of course, was the birth of a new nation. It’s all too easy to forget the remarkableness of the deeds done, the selflessness of the risks taken, and the magnitude of the accomplishments of our Founding Fathers. General George Washington defeated the most formidable military in the world. The Constitution was the “miracle of Philadelphia,” and remains the oldest written constitution in existence. Such undertakings were assumed for the benefit of not only those first Americans, but their posterity. The issuance of the Declaration of Independence was still more noteworthy. As Coolidge explained, “It was not because it was proposed to establish a new nation, but because it was proposed to establish a nation on new principles, that July 4, 1776, has come to be regarded as one of the greatest days in history.” The Declaration put forth the revolutionary idea that no human being is born to rule over others absent their consent. That idea makes each American the fortunate inheritor of a unique trust: a nation committed to self-government. FPG/Getty Images That trust establishes a connective chain of gratitude and obligation for the American people today. The Founding generation launched the experiment. The current generation has the task of continuing it by governing themselves, assuming their duties and respecting the rights of others, in equal measure. Without an appreciation of their heritage, we can’t expect them to remain galvanized to maintain a life of freedom for their children. Such reflections serve to inspire, just as they humble. Contemporary Americans are the posterity, but not the singular source, of America’s material blessings. From the Founding to Lincoln’s time, America had grown in size, population, and wealth. It was the “iron men” who fought for the principles of America, who enabled the “degree of prosperity that we now enjoy.” The Founders established a commercial republic, respectful of property rights and disdainful of class distinctions, that unleashed American ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and mobility. Both Lincoln and Coolidge believed such enterprise could ultimately be traced to the Declaration of Independence. It is the principle of human equality that eliminates fixed social status and gives individuals the right to eat the bread that their own hands earn, as Lincoln explained. In turn, Coolidge contended that, “The things of the spirit come first.” He warned that, unless Americans cling to the Declaration, “all our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren scepter in our grasp.” Material pursuits, when not bound by eternal and immutable principles, become destructive. Self-reliance degrades to autonomy, greed, and consumerism. Profound abundance, absent the transcendent and sacrificial, ushers in a crisis of purpose and meaning. Coolidge’s words portend our time. Fortunately, Coolidge also provided a path forward. Examinations of the past serve to underscore the unifying work that went into the Declaration and offer hope for renewed consensus. The Declaration was not an exegesis of privileged, select statesmen but “the result of the seasoned and deliberate thought of the dominant portion of the people of the Colonies.” For example, the principle of equality was present in nine of the early state constitutions, according to Founding scholar Dr. Thomas West. Ideas about inherent natural rights and equality were put forth in the Virginia Declaration of Rights, penned by George Mason, prior to the Declaration of Independence. The recognition that “all men are created equal” was made accessible by the Judeo-Christian tenet that all are equal in the eyes of God. And influential religious leaders like Rev. Thomas Hooker preached to the approximately 70-80% of colonial Americans who attended church that, “The foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people.” Both Coolidge and Lincoln believed American unity resides in the Declaration. For his part, Lincoln believed that the principle “all men are created equal” establishes a common moral sentiment. It is the right of every American to “claim it as though they were blood of the blood, and flesh of the flesh of the men who wrote that Declaration.” For so we are. That is the electric cord in that Declaration that links the hearts of patriotic and liberty-loving men together, that will link those patriotic hearts as long as the love of freedom exists in the minds of men throughout the world. It is fidelity to a set of principles, rather than exclusive religions or ethnicities, that defines Americans. Matching Lincoln, Coolidge contended that: About the Declaration there is a finality that is exceedingly restful … If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. Americans can find contentment, solitude, and pride in the resilient principles of the Declaration of Independence and the connectivity they offer. In Fourth of Julys gone by, Abraham Lincoln and Calvin Coolidge delivered two speeches worthy of Americans’ lasting consideration. Who will be the next statesman to do so? It may be some time, as such genius is difficult to match. Yet perhaps it is not so essential that presidents today echo their masterful words. What matters most is that we Americans believe them ourselves. * * * Brenda M. Hafera is the Assistant Director and Senior Policy Analyst at The Heritage Foundation’s Simon Center for American Studies. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Democrats are privately in agreement that President Joe Biden should be replaced after his poor performance during last week’s presidential debate, according to former Obama administration official Van Jones. Jones, a CNN political commentator, said on the network that Democrats are privately discussing how, not whether, to replace Biden as the Democratic Party’s nominee for president.  “Behind the scenes, it’s full-scale panic. People are passing around legal memos, PDFs are flying back and forth on WhatsApp, trying to figure out what are the options?” Jones said on Wednesday. “How can you replace Biden? How do you get him to do it in a way where he feels respected, as he should be respected? Who should Kamala Harris’ vice president be? The conversation on air and the conversation off air are completely different.” “We have someone who loves this country. We have someone who has given his all – I mean, his all, to the last drop – for this country, but he may not be able to get across the finish line,” Jones said of the president. “A mature party has to take that into account, and that is what’s happening. I understand people want to, you know, defend him and protect him and give him the space and the dignity to make his own choice. But there is a big conversation happening right now about how this happens – not whether.” Van Jones on CNN: “Behind the scenes, it’s full scale panic. People are passing around legal memos trying to figure out what are the options. How can you replace Biden? The conversation on air and the conversation off air are completely different.” pic.twitter.com/umvvvgVD7b — TheBlaze (@theblaze) July 4, 2024 Biden is facing growing calls to step aside as the Democratic Party’s nominee for president. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democrat in Congress to publicly call for Biden to drop out of the race on Tuesday, followed shortly after by Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee. “What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race,” Grijalva told The New York Times. Biden has repeatedly insisted that he is staying in the race. In an interview with a Milwaukee radio show on Wednesday, the president brushed off his feeble performance in last week’s presidential debate. “I had a bad night,” Biden said. “And the fact of the matter is that I screwed up. I made a mistake. That’s 90 minutes onstage – look at what I’ve done in three and a half years.”

Amid calls for him to step down as the Democratic presidential nominee after his disastrous performance in the debate against former President Donald Trump a week ago, President Joe Biden has reportedly been asking allies what he can do to shore up support for him to continue with his re-election bid. According to The Wall Street Journal, in the two days prior to Independence Day, Biden has contacted numerous allies in Congress to persuade them that he should withdraw from the nomination. Additionally, on Wednesday evening Biden met with roughly two dozen Democratic governors. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said, “We were honest about the feedback that we were getting. We were honest about the concerns that we’re hearing,” adding, “We said we would stand with him.” On Wednesday, Biden reportedly told his campaign staff, “Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can—and as simply and straightforward as I can. I am running. I’m the nominee of the Democratic Party. No one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving.” Yet numerous polls show Trump’s lead over Biden soared to six percentage points in the wake of their debate. Delaware Democrat Sen. Chris Coons said that when he spoke to Biden on Tuesday, Biden asked him, “How do you rebuild confidence?” Coons said he advised Biden to conduct an unscripted event such as a town hall “where the average American can just see his engagement and agility and capacity.” “The campaign has come off as extremely arrogant in the way it has responded to legitimate questions about President Biden’s capacity as a candidate. Calling us bed-wetters or Davos Democrats is out of bounds,” Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) asserted, adding, “This campaign damn well better tell us how they expect to win it—if they don’t tell me that this week, call me back next week.” A few Democrat House members have called for Biden to step down, including Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas and Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona. Former Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), irritated that Biden supporters decided to “dig in and ask everybody to pretend like we didn’t see what we saw,” is pushing the idea of Biden stepping down so he can be replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris. He says, “We have a great candidate. She’s done a phenomenal job. I think she’d be attractive to a lot of working-class people in the middle-class Midwest once they get to know her.”

After decades of making music history, it’s safe to say that Rolling Stone’s guitarist, Ronnie Wood, knows what he’s doing — but he can still use help from his daughters. This can be seen in the adorable way they’ve tagged along for the band’s latest tour. It’s named after their latest album, Hackney Diamonds. This is the first collection of new songs from the Rolling Stones since 2005 and their first tour since 2019. As you can imagine, their setlist is made of both old and new songs. But have you ever given thought to the process behind making a setlist? Thanks to a post shared on Wood’s social media accounts, we get an adorable sneak peak. Most of the setlist is made by the time we see it. But that doesn’t stop Wood’s twin daughters, Alice and Gracie, from putting their own personal touches to it. See for yourself in the clip below — it’s the third slide! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ronnie Wood (@ronniewood) As you can see, this is no ordinary setlist. On the contrary, it’s been made to be colorful and full of cute drawings. Best of all, even Wood gets in on the fun. He does this by outlining an already colorful letter with even more color. Although it’s certainly not the aesthetic anyone imagines when thinking of the Rolling Stones, it couldn’t be more perfect! Ronnie Wood’s Twin Daughters Get Creative When Given the Chance to Alter the Rolling Stone’s Setlist View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ronnie Wood (@ronniewood) Needless to say, fans of Wood are delighted over this sweet moment with his twins who, by the way, turned 8 years old at the end of May! Not only is he finding a way to spend time with them amidst a busy tour, but he’s also fostering their creativity. And, if Wood’s illustrious career is any indication, these girls are sure to have bright futures of their own, no matter their career paths! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Rolling Stones Guitarist Gets Double The Help When His Twin Daughters Get Their Hands On His Setlist appeared first on InspireMore.

Well, Paul McCartney’s secret is out: he’s a Taylor Swift fan, and we have the footage to prove it! This former Beatle was seen rocking out at a concert during the popstar’s Eras Tour. Not only that, but he was dancing with other fans and having a great time! Thankfully, someone caught the most wholesome video of the encounter and posted it on social media. In the clip, Paul McCartney can easily be spotted in the crowd at the Taylor Swift performance surrounded by younger fans. When the rockstar began to dance along, his fellow Swifties seemed totally impressed! Commenters were equally delighted to see the music legend having so much fun at the concert. @consequence Paul McCartney dancing at Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour.” #paulmccartney #taylorswift #theerastour #london #wembleystadium #livemusic ♬ original sound – consequence “HE KNOWS THE LYRICS!!!” gushed one user. “Could I possibly love him more?!?” Another added, “I’m a Beatles fan and I think it’s great. Way to go, Sir Paul.” It’s not actually that strange to see him there. If you think about it, Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney aren’t so different. Although they belong to different eras and genres, they have one important thing in common: they are some of the world’s most famous musicians. Plus, you could easily compare modern Swiftie culture to the Beatlemania of yore. Screengrab from TikTok This year, Taylor Swift actually surpassed the Beatles by breaking their record for most weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 albums chart. According to Billboard, three of her albums have spent 384 weeks in the top 10. That’s two more weeks than the iconic rock band! Obviously, Paul McCartney will never stop being a legend, even if Taylor Swift surpasses him in the charts a thousand times over. That’s partially because his contribution to rock music is so monumentally important, and partially because he’s a cool guy who jams out to other artists! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Paul McCartney Jams Out With Fans At Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Concert appeared first on InspireMore.

William Shakespeare once said, “All the world’s a stage.” One woman clearly took that message to heart when she stopped by a field of cows and started singing for them! Influencer Morgan Tyner is sharing this clip with her followers as a brilliant example of how not to take things too seriously. We’re loving this reminder that life is supposed to be fun! In this hilarious video, a massive herd of cows was absolutely enraptured by a woman singing for them. Although she couldn’t help giggling a little bit at the silly situation, she still put everything she had into the performance. She even pretended to be holding a microphone! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Morgan Tyner (@morganbtyner) At one point, she held out the “mic” and told the cows to join in. That’s when she finally broke down laughing. Overall, it seems like she had the best time singing for these cows. The animals also seemed to like listening to the music! “POV: bringing more play & goofiness into your life and not taking it too seriously,” read the text overlay in the video. People are cracking up over this woman singing for cows. Viewers were delighted by this funny clip. As you’d expect, the comments section was absolutely overrun by cow puns. We’re not even mad about it! “Coachella Cowchella ,” wrote one user. “Their own private cowcert!” added another. “They loved it!” A third joked, “She’s finally getting herd!” Screengrab from Instagram In all seriousness, though, these cows probably did enjoy hearing this woman singing for them. It’s been demonstrably proven more than once that cows love listening to music! For example, this herd of cattle was thrilled by an 11-year-old’s flute concert. Meanwhile, this man has amused a variety of four-legged audience members, including cows, with his handpan drum skills. Music is such a wonderful way to connect with others, whether that’s in a sold-out stadium or a grassy field! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Woman Puts On Silly “Cowchella” Performance For Rapt Bovine Audience appeared first on InspireMore.

Who doesn’t want a convenient way to look and feel fresh in the summer? This is a huge reason why dry shampoos are so popular, after all. That being said, not all of these convenient products are considered safe. In this case, those in aerosol cans are the ones in question. There was a recall on these types of products in 2022 and, now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are updating this list. The reason for this recall has to do with one ingredient found in them: benzene. In case you’re unaware, benzene is classified as a human carcinogen. So, when low levels of it were detected in these aerosol dry shampoos, the FDA and affected companies took action. Although they believe that daily use of these products is not dangerous enough to cause health issues, they say the recall is out of an “abundance of caution.” Karolina Kaboompics / Pexels This is reassuring, particularly because of what benzene can cause. According to the National Cancer Institute, benzene can lead to cancers like leukemia and “other blood disorders.” It’s also an ingredient in gasoline. Check Your Dry Shampoo: Is Yours On This Recall List? According to the FDA, several brands are on this recall list. That includes Dove, Nexxus, TRESemmé, Suave, and more. You can find the recalled products in the list below: Dove Dry Shampoo Volume and Fullness: 1.15 oz, 5 oz and 7.3 oz cans Dove Dry Shampoo Fresh Coconut: 1.15 oz, 5 oz and 7.3 oz cans Dove Dry Shampoo Fresh and Floral: 5 oz cans Dove Dry Shampoo Ultra Clean: 5 oz cans Dove Dry Shampoo Invisible: 5 oz cans Dove Dry Shampoo Detox and Purify: 5 oz cans Dove Dry Shampoo Clarifying Charcoal: 5 oz cans Dove Dry Shampoo Go Active: 5 oz cans Nexxus Dry Shampoo Refreshing Mist: 5 oz cans Nexxus Inergy Foam Shampoo: 6.7 oz cans Suave Dry Shampoo Hair Refresher: 5 oz cans Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Refresh and Revive: 4.3 oz cans TRESemmé Dry Shampoo Volumizing: 1.15 oz, 5 oz and 7.3 oz cans TRESemmé Dry Shampoo Fresh and Clean: 5 oz and 7.3 oz cans TRESemmé Pro Pure Dry Shampoo: 5 oz cans Bed Head Oh Bee Hive Dry Shampoo: 5 oz cans Bed Head Oh Bee Hive Volumizing Dry Shampoo: 5 oz cans Bed Head Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo: 2.1 oz cans Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo: 2.5 oz cans What should you do if you discover that you own one of these products? You can visit this website to get instructions on how to get a refund. Stay safe everyone! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Shampoo Recall: Major Brands Affected Nationwide appeared first on InspireMore.

'usurp the will of the voters because Biden is likely to lose the election'

Calling all Patriots!