Latest news with #AmericanFlag
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Fourth Of July Fireworks: Will Tariffs Light The Fuse On Costs?
Bright burning sparklers against American flag, closeup Picture this: It's July 4th. The grill is sizzling, the lemonade is cold, and the sky is about to burst into a kaleidoscope of colors. But behind every 'ooh' and 'aah' is a supply chain story more dramatic than a grand finale. Let's light the fuse on what tariffs mean for your Independence Day fireworks Nearly 99% of the fireworks lighting up American skies are made in China. That's right—when John Adams called for 'illuminations' to celebrate independence, he probably didn't picture a world where the rockets' red glare came with a customs declaration and a hefty tariff bill. But here we are, with tariffs on Chinese fireworks between 35-150% , depending on when they were bought. Tariffs: Lighting the Fuse on Costs Tariffs don't just add a little extra to the bill—they're an exploding shell in the cost structure. For every container of fireworks arriving at a U.S. port, importers must pay the tariff upfront, before customs even thinks about releasing the goods. That means: Let's break down the ripple effects: With the 250th anniversary of American independence on the horizon, the stakes are higher than ever. If tariffs remain, the future of firework displays in America could be at risk. Exemptions have come and gone in the past, but there's no guarantee they'll return. A Call for Collaboration (and a Little Supply Chain Magic) What's the solution? As with any great supply chain challenge, it's about collaboration. Distributors, retailers, and even consumers need to work together to bridge the gap—maybe by absorbing some costs, maybe by adjusting expectations, but always by keeping the spirit of July 4th alive. So, as you watch the sky light up this July 4th, remember: every burst of color is the result of a global supply chain, a dash of resilience, and a lot of teamwork. Tariffs may have made the journey a little bumpier, but with the right planning and a bit of that American ingenuity, the show will go on—perhaps with a few more 'wows' for the supply chain professionals working behind the scenes. Happy Independence Day—and may your fireworks be as bright as your supply chain is resilient!
Forbes
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
5 Easy July 4th Cocktails That Will Wow Your Backyard Guests
4th of July Holiday background. Cranberry punch with ice and stars shaped apple pieces in glass ... More against background of old turquoise board and sun rays. Patriotic American Flag drinks. Mock up. Fireworks aren't the only thing lighting up the sky on the Fourth of July—your cocktail glass deserves a little sparkle, too. Whether you're grilling on the patio, lounging poolside, or watching your neighbors try to operate a questionable box of fireworks, the right drink sets the tone for summer's most celebratory holiday. Sure, there's always beer and rosé, but why not raise the bar (literally) with something a little more festive? A great Independence Day cocktail should be cold, refreshing, and easy to batch—or at least not require you to muddle herbs while everyone else is in the pool. Think citrusy highballs, bright spritzes, and classic American spirits like bourbon, rye, and rum given a seasonal twist. And yes, if it's red, white, or blue (or better yet, all three), that's a bonus. I tapped bartenders and spirits brands across the country for their go-to July 4th drinks—recipes that range from ultra-simple to firework-worthy showstoppers. Whether you're planning a low-key cookout or a full-blown backyard bash, these cocktails will bring the star-spangled spirit straight to your glass. Bonus: many of them can be scaled up for pitchers or coolers, so you're not playing bartender all day while everyone else works on their sunburn. From a fruity spritz to a bourbon-spiked lemonade worthy of your uncle's grilling playlist, these drinks deliver summer in every sip. So grab your ice bucket, stock up on citrus, and cue the patriotic playlist—it's time to celebrate America with the most American tradition of all: a good cocktail in hand. Summer Vacation Summer Vacation Ingredients: Directions: Combine all ingredients into shaker and strain into highball glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wheel and mint. All-American Rum Limeade All-American Rum Limeade Mixologist: Lee Corbett (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) Ingredients: Directions: Mix blue spirulina with a barspoon of water, stir in rum, and set aside. Add Campari and grenadine to a tall glass, stir, then fill with ice. Slowly pour in limeade to avoid mixing layers, leaving 1 inch at the top. Float the blue spirulina rum on top through a fine-mesh strainer. Garnish with strawberries, blueberries, and glittery star-shaped apple slices; serve with a straw. Peach Botanical Sptriz Peach Botanical Spritz Ingredients: Directions: Fill a white wine glass with ice. Add all ingredients, stir gently, and garnish with a peach or orange slice. California Spritz California Spritz Ingredients: Instructions: Fill a wine glass with ice cubes. Pour all the ingredients over the ice and stir gently. Garnish with orange wheels Kentucky Lemonade Kentucky Lemonade Instructions: Add all ingredients except soda to shaker tin. Add ice and shake. Double strain over ice in highball (collins) glass. Top with lemon lime soda. Garnish with mint sprig and lemon wheel
The National
5 days ago
- General
- The National
US-Israel-Iran war
Images of the American and Israeli flags are projected on to the walls of Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday. AP
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
People Are Disgusted At This Clip Of Donald Trump Jokingly Asking White House Service Workers If They're Undocumented
This week, Donald Trump held a press conference on the White House South Lawn to show off his new gigantic American flag pole. While surrounded by a group of White House service workers, a reporter questioned Trump about his policies surrounding ICE raids at worksites, and that's when things got extremely awkward. "DHS said this week that worksite enforcement would remain in place, that it's a cornerstone, so what's your message to farmers?" a reporter asked Trump. "We gotta get the bad people out of here first. We're doing that. We're taking them out by the thousands. Murderers, drug dealers, uh, people that are mentally insane from insane asylums," Trump replied. Related: A Clip Of Donald Trump Getting Angry After Being Fact-Checked Is Going Mega Viral, And It Sums Up His Entire Presidency In A Nutshell He then turned around to face the service workers and asked: "Any illegal immigrants here? No? I'll tell you what, if they were, they'll find out," he said, gesturing towards the press. "They'll be checking you, you won't believe. You're whole life will be destroyed because of this press conference. They'll destroy these people." Some of the workers laughed as Trump continued: "I didn't want to tell them that before they stood out. They'll end up being, he's so-and-so, and this one is from you know where. Don't worry, I think you're going to be ok," Trump said, chuckling. Related: MAGA Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Doesn't Like This Army Vet's Now-Viral Speech Here's the full clip: Trump: Any illegal immigrants in here? — Acyn (@Acyn) June 18, 2025 CNN / Twitter: @Acyn "How the F*CK is this funny???" this person asked. "What a disgusting question. If someone had said yes, would #donaldtrump go and get Holman?" another person wrote. This person called Trump, "Fucking shameful." "Trump says the lives of the construction workers with him would have had their lives destroyed if they were 'illegal.' He knows he's destroying lives, and jokes about it. He's deporting working people and destroying their families. This BS about 'insane' immigrants is disgusting," another person wrote. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments. Also in In the News: "The Most Honest Accidental Summary Of This Administration's Foreign Policy": A Clip From Karoline Leavitt's Latest Press Briefing Is Going Viral For Being So, So Cringey Also in In the News: Trump Had A Middle-Of-The-Night Meltdown About... Well... So Many Things Also in In the News: "Let Them Eat Teslas": People At The "No Kings" Protests This Weekend Brought Signs That Were So Clever I'm Still Laughing About Them
USA Today
20-06-2025
- USA Today
Nude Iowa woman arrested after stealing American flags, burning them: Police
A southern Iowa woman is facing charges after authorities say she took her clothes off, stole American flags and set them on fire this month. Brianna Laird, 21, is facing charges after a caller said she burned stolen American flags on June 16, per court documents obtained by USA TODAY. While burning American flags is protected under the First Amendment, Laird was charged with third-degree arson, assault on an officer, indecent exposure, interference with official acts, fifth-degree criminal mischief, possession of drug paraphernalia and fifth-degree theft, per online court records. A lawyer for Laird did not immediately respond to requests for comment on June 20. Court documents: Woman hit and kicked officer while resisting arrest On June 16, someone called dispatchers about a woman in Bussey, Iowa, about 60 miles southeast of Des Moines. The caller said a nude woman was 'lighting American flags on fire,' according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. When Marion County deputies arrived, they allegedly found Laird, who had an American Flag tied around her head and was not wearing pants or underwear. Authorities said Laird had taken the flags, which belong to the city of Bussey, and damaged them. She gave police a fake name and when deputies tried to arrest her, she hit one of them in the face, the documents said. Deputies eventually got her into the back seat of a patrol vehicle, but before one deputy could shut the door, she kicked them. When she arrived at the jail, authorities searched Laird's bag and found drug paraphernalia inside, the court documents say. Is it legal to burn the American flag? Past cases involving flag burning Flag desecration and burning have long been a point of discussion among U.S. lawmakers. The issue has been hotly contested in past cases, such as a June 1966 incident in which a Brooklyn veteran burned an American flag on a street corner after he learned that civil rights activist James Meredith was shot, according to the Freedom Forum. When the veteran was arrested for violating a New York flag desecration law, he said, 'Yes, that is my flag; I burned it. If they let that happen to Meredith, we don't need an American flag.' The New York Court of Appeals argued that flag burning was an attempt to incite violence, posing a danger to public peace. While the Supreme Court did not rule on the flag desecration law he was accused of breaking, it did rule that he could not be punished for "verbally disrespecting the flag," per the Freedom Forum. The Supreme Court reversed and remanded the case because lawmakers could not come to an agreement about whether he was convicted for burning the flag or the words he said at the time. While there are some state flag desecration laws, if enforced, they are likely to be overruled. What can people be charged with in relation to American flags? According to the Freedom Forum, freedom of speech applies to more than spoken words. That means expressions such as burning the flag, books, newspaper articles, online posts, theater and dance and even video games are considered "symbolic speech." There are some instances in which citizens could be charged for desecrating the flag even if the act of burning the flag itself is protected, the Freedom Forum said. Those who burn the flag in places with high fire risks could face charges for the act of burning something, the Freedom Forum said. And like the most recent case out of Iowa, stealing someone else's flag to burn could also be criminal, the organization said. "Burning the flag to deliberately provoke a violent response from someone else or in order to incite others to imminent lawless violence is not protected either," the Freedom Forum said. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
