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--:-- John Bickley: Happy Independence Day! We're doing something a little different today. Instead of the news you need to know, we asked our staff, contributors, and a few elected officials to reflect on the birth of our nation.
--:-- Senator Marsha Blackburn: How often do we stop and think about what it means to say, I am an American? As we celebrate Independence Day, let's stop and think about what it means. It means that we live in a free country, that we are a free people, that we have the right to free speech. It means that we have the opportunity to pursue our version of the American dream. I am so grateful. I can say I am an American.
--:-- Chip Roy: As someone who went to the University of Virginia, I'm pretty steeped in all things Thomas Jefferson. July 4th sticks out because of the Declaration of Independence and what the Declaration of Independence meant, what it means. But if you ask me what July 4th means to me, July 4th means something way more than the hot dogs and the parades and the floats and the fireworks. Because it really does come back to the 400,000 tombstones on the other side of the Potomac River in Arlington National Cemetery. The thousands, you know, are at Fort Sam Houston, which I represent, and that National Cemetery. All of those people who were willing to give the last full measure of devotion, it was for something a lot bigger than themselves. And that is what this is about. It was so they could live free. It was so that they could be able to live according to the dictates of their conscience so that they go out and work and take care of their family. And that what July 4th is about.
--:-- Spencer Lindquist: And I want to wish all of our listeners a very happy 4th of July. Whether you're at a barbecue or heading off to the lake, I hope you're spending time with family and friends today and celebrating this wonderful holiday. Today is a great day to reflect not only the values that make our country great, but on the courage and the fortitude of those who fought and founded our nation. Happy Independence Day, everyone.
--:-- Jessica Levinson: I'm Jessica Levinson. I'm a professor at Loyola Law School and the host of the Passing Judgment podcast. And for me, July 4th is about celebrating the promise of this country, the promise of being a place where we protect and celebrate freedom, fairness, and equality.
--:-- Aryeh Lightstone: Hi, this is Aryeh Lightstone, former senior advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman. This July 4th, I will do what I do every July 4th, which is to thank God for the unique and special opportunity to be an American, to be born as an American Jew, to be able to live in this country as afforded me opportunities that I would never have been afforded in any other place at any other time. And I would say that what is special about that is it is not unique to me. It is unique to each and every person listening to this message. We are truly the most blessed people in the history of the world. And with that blessing comes enormous responsibility. So this July 4th, I will thank my God for this opportunity. And I will redouble my efforts to make sure that the United States of America, that I was lucky enough to inherit will be a better United States of America for my children to carry that mantle.
--:-- Mireya Lordi: This Fourth of July, I'm remembering a funny story. When my baby sister was just two years old, she saw fireworks from the car and shouted, America! We're still not sure how she learned fireworks mean America. But what I do know is that I love living in the greatest country in the world, and I'm very proud to celebrate it today. I hope you and your families have a wonderful Independence Day.
--:-- Congressman Dan Crenshaw: My name is Congressman Dan Crenshaw. I represent the 2nd District of Texas. Well, America is the place where our founders collected and wrote down all the greatest ideas that humanity ever had. They wrote them down in our founding documents and decided that we would be the first to create a government whose purpose was to protect the inalienable rights of its people. And since that time we have created and led the world to more flourishing and more prosperity than has ever been known in human history. And I think that's a pretty good thing.
--:-- Ash Short: Hi, I'm Ash Short. And Independence Day is a celebration of the day America declared it would no longer operate under the tyrannical rule of King George. How do I celebrate? With family, food, and fireworks.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Hey there, this is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce wanting to wish you a happy Independence Day. My family typically celebrates by attending the West of the Pecos Rodeo. Shout out to Pecos, Texas and the people who put that on every year. But this year, I will spend it at home in Nashville relaxing and watching fireworks. We at Morning Wire hope you have a happy holiday as well. Before we get back to delivering you the news you need to know, happy 4th. Woohoo!
--:-- Brent Schur: Hey everyone, this is Daily Wire Investigations editor Brent Schur. I wanted to wish everybody a happy Independence Day. My family is celebrating the most American way possible. We're bringing my three kids to a baseball game to see our Mets play in the nation's capital and hopefully beat the Washington Nationals. Then we'll go home and light off some hopefully celebratory fireworks. Independence Day is a great time to be thankful that we live in a country where we are free to do a show like Morning Wire. So thanks everyone for listening and have a great time celebrating.
--:-- Megan Basham: Hi there. This is Megan Basham, Daily Wire culture reporter. So my parents live in Old Town, Portsmouth, Virginia, in a house built in 1880 that faces the Elizabeth River. Now that river is the site of the Great Bridge Battle that took place on December 9th, 1775 between the Tories, led by Virginia's Royal Governor, John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, and the Patriot Forces, commanded by Colonel William Woodford. The Patriots won the day, of course. And some of my favorite 4th of July memories are sitting with cousins, grandparents, spouses, and siblings, all squeezed in together between the great columns of my parents' porch, watching the fireworks explode where we know that revolutionary cannon fire once echoed, all done to secure our freedom. Happy Independence Day.
--:-- Cabba Phillips: Hey guys, Cabba Phillips here. To me, the 4th of July is all about freedom. I'm grateful today and every day to live in a country where I'm free to worship God and share my beliefs freely. This will be my first Independence Day as a father. I can't wait to take my son to his first parade. We see how he does around all the fireworks Fingers crossed for that one Happy Fourth everybody
--:-- Xi Van Fleet: My name is Xi Van Fleet. 38 years ago I left China to escape communism and I found freedom in America. It breaks my heart to see 30 years later that communism is here, threatening our freedom. To me, this Fourth of July has more significance than ever before. On this day of independence. I not only celebrate freedom, but I also renew my vow to defend it.
--:-- Matt Sanofsky: Hey guys, this is Morning Wire intern Matt Sanofsky, and I think Independence Day is about spending time with people knowing that we're all united by being American. You know, there's a lot that divides the American people every day, but it's important to remember that no matter what, we can all celebrate freedom and some good burgers, great hot dogs, and hopefully even better Red Sox baseball. Thanks for listening to Morning Wire and happy Independence Day.
--:-- David Marcus: I'm Daily Wire contributor David Marcus. When I was a child in the Longcrest neighborhood of Philadelphia in the 80s, we had a fabulous local 4th of July fireworks display at the rec center. On blanket, I would sit next to my grandfather, a World War II vet, and with each bomb bursting in air, he would name it. That was a double flying Dutchman, he'd say, voice as sincere as a football announcer, boom, the next one, Antwerp Special, he'd say, adding, those are rare. I was wrapped, convinced my all-knowing grandfather was instilling important information to me. Now, of course, I know he was making it up, to make it more fun for me. And isn't that kind of what the fourth is all about? We get to make it up. Not a king, not a ruler. The fireworks are called what my grandfather says they are. And that's the way it should be. Happy Fourth of July, everybody.
--:-- John Bickley: Well, that about wraps things up. We say it often, but I want to say it again, especially today. Thank you so much for listening. We consider it a great honor and a great responsibility to bring you the important news of the day and bring some balance to the national conversation. As we say, a crucial part of this remarkable experiment in freedom is being able to simply hear the truth expressed out loud in public forums. We get to be a part of that process on the show. And in the end, it's only because you tune in. So thank you and we hope you have a truly celebratory Independence Day.
