On Thursday’s CNN This Morning before the Fourth of July celebration for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from the British monarch, host Audie Cornish and her panel spread doom on the planed events. She especially took issue with events led by President Trump, like the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.  The panel of former Trump communications director Mike Dubke and Biden aide Meghan Hays joined in bashing on the fair, but both agreed it was a cool concept; it just didn’t meet their standards. Cornish jumped into Dubke and Hays’ back-and-forth and said the fair was “On the list of self-owns” because there was a “bipartisan” organization, America 250, that was created by Congress to hold such events.   On Thursday’s CNN This Morning, Audie Cornish spread doom on DC's 250th events, as she connected the Great American State Fair to the media-favorite reflecting pool. She then asked, “Why do the vibes have to be off on something that should have been politically neutral?” pic.twitter.com/7v5PtCijUz — Nick (@nspin310) July 2, 2026   As for Freedom 250 events, their World Cup watch parties in D.C. have been a success so far, as many celebrated the U.S.’s success in the tournament on the National Mall. Dubke asked this to Cornish and wondered, “Where’s the counter state fair then?” After another back and forth between panelists after Dubke’s question, Hays said the story of Freedom 250, the Trump-created anniversary group, was one of “corruption”: (...) But also this is more about the corruption.  They came in. They had their own organization. People are sponsoring it. More money going to them, and the execution here on something that could have been incredible is just so terrible. There's no one there. There's no food, there's no rides, there's no semblance of a state fair. And it's just really unfortunate because our country, like, everyone deserves better here. Cornish later turned to enjoin the media favorite of the reflecting pool to Independence Day events Cornish began, “Is disappointing that in the nation's capital, what we've got is a green reflecting pool with barbed wire” and stopped as Dubke scoffed, “See, now you're just going to the negatives.” Hays and Cornish then complained about the heat and weather, and as Hays went on about the weather. To which, Cornish joked: “He’s not in charge of the weather. Okay?” Cornish then started to close the anniversary event bashing, as she asked: “And as an immigrant, I love July 4th. I think that everybody feels like, why do the vibes have to be off on something that should have been politically neutral?” Dubke said events in small towns would be great for the celebration, and told people to “leave Washington.” Amid the doom of the DC events, Dubke’s point should be taken to heart for all to enjoy the parts of the underappreciated America, where Cornish’s feelings of bad vibes may not be felt at all. The transcript is below. Click "expand": CNN This Morning July 2, 2026 6:53:22 AM Eastern (...) MIKE DUBKE: Look, this is a great concept. I as a kid, I snuck into the Erie County Fair, which is larger than most state fairs. And this is my shout-out to Western New York again. But state fairs are awesome. I didn't see any rides. I didn't see any animals. AUDIE CORNISH: There was a Ferris wheel. MEGHAN HAYES: The Ferris wheel, like, stopped at one point because the generator broke [Laughter] DUBKE: Where are the animals? HAYES: Where was a rodeo at one point? DUBKE: I mean, this actually really could have been a great -  HAYES: Cool concept- DUBKE: - very cool concept. And unfortunately, it seems like it didn't get brought off in that way. CORNISH: It’s again- DUBKE: No demolition derby? CORNISH: On the list of self-owns, this one is high because there was an organization that was planning 250 events. It was bipartisan. It was approved by Congress. They had been planning. And then the Trump folks came in and said, “No, we have our own group.” And it's been this. DUBKE: But they also got funded. The other group got funded.  CORNISH: Yeah. DUBKE: What is there? What are they? Where's the counter state fair then?  CORNISH: Well, I do- HAYES: Where are they going to have it? DUBKE: When? HAYES: But where are you going to have it?  CORNISH: Yeah HAYES: The park service is run by -  like the president has [inaudible] CORNISH: Say that again: The park service- HAYES: Is run by the president. That's something that the Department of interior. There you have it. So, it's a it's an executive branch function, but also this is more about the corruption.  They came in. They had their own organization. People are sponsoring it. More money going to them, and the execution here on something that could have been incredible is just so terrible. There's no one there. There's no food, there's no rides, there's no semblance of a state fair. And it's just really unfortunate because our country, like, everyone deserves better here. (...) 6:55:01 AM Eastern CORNISH: I think what it is is I - Look positive. You can now see Ludacris. I think one of my producers told me in Ohio, okay, like other places are going to have really great 250 events. My family is going to be up in Plymouth, Massachusetts calls itself America's hometown. There's going to be awesome parades and everything there. DUBKE: I’m very excited about that. CORNISH: Is disappointing that in the nation's capital, what we've got is a green reflecting pool with barbed wire - DUBKE: See, now you're just going to the negatives. CORNISH: The generator out on the ferris wheel. DUBKE: I understand that. CORNISH: That it's hot as heck and there's not even fried butter, as you mentioned. HAYES: And the fireworks are getting pushed back to 11 P.M. because he wants to give a speech for 45 minutes. And the weather is going to be so terrible, you won't be able to see. DUBKE: As anyone who is - CORNISH: He’s not in charge of the weather. Okay. [Laughter] But the point is, it didn't have to be this way. HAYES: That’s right. Right. (...) 6:56:18 AM Eastern CORNISH: I grew up in Boston, like seeing the symphony and the fireworks on the esplanade, I care - I like love July 4th. I can't tell you. And as an immigrant, I love July 4th. I think that everybody feels like, why do the vibes have to be off on something that should have been politically neutral? And now the events that Freedom 250 has made, and I'm saying Freedom 250. DUBKE: I know, you're drawing your line there. CORNISH: I draw a line by congressionally approved versus not. I like that line because it's like my tax dollars and who represents me is, like, it didn't have to be this way. You didn't have to have a moment where Martina McBride, of all people, has to be like, you know what, I'm out. This is too political. DUBKE: But to your larger point, I think once you get outside the beltway, where America is going to be celebrating this in small towns across the country, I mean, if you want a callout, you leave Washington. CORNISH: Yeah. Of course. DUBKE: Don't go through DCA, though, because it will be shut down. CORNISH: [Laughs] Yeah, but the airspace is shut down. (...)