Today: The difference between America 250 and Freedom 250, plus major new TPS changes

Today as it Happened on Thursday, July 2, 2026: This Fourth of July weekend, two separate celebrations are marking the nation's 250th birthday — and the differences between them have sparked confusion and frustration. America 250 is a nonprofit, nonpartisan commission created by Congress that has been in the works for 10 years. Its mission is to "renew our commitment to the ideal of Democracy through programs that educate, engage, and unite" the nation. President Donald Trump, however, decided to add a second celebration to the mix, called Freedom 250. "2026 will be a celebration like no other, honoring our nation and all of its glory," Trump said. "To help carry out these exciting plans we have created a new public-private partnership. It's called Freedom 250." Less than a week after a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Trump administration is taking the steps to cancel TPS, or temporary protected status, for thousands of migrants who came to the U.S. from at least seven countries. The countries include Ethiopia, Burma, South Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Syria and Haiti. The high court determined that the Trump administration is able to cancel the program, which formally provided refuge for people who are fleeing violence or natural disasters in their home countries. And less than 50 miles from Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch, a Santa Fe nonprofit is serving as a haven for survivors of his alleged crimes — a middle ground between their pain and the public. ------------------------------------- Follow Scripps News on other platforms— Join our newsletter at https://bit.ly/2q1tepr Follow us on Facebook:   / scrippsnews   Follow us on X: https://x.com/scrippsnews Follow us on Instagram:   / scrippsnews   Follow us on TikTok:   / scrippsnews