Politics

28:00

From: Talk to Al Jazeera

America at 250: Democracy’s greatest experiment?

Chris Hedges reflects on 250 years of US independence – the nation’s ideals, contradictions, and what it has become.

25:00

From: The Bottom Line

Lawmaker McGovern: Americans need to ‘fight for the soul’ of the US

The left is rising because Americans ‘want more from the Democrats’, US Representative Jim McGovern argues.

Reform UK’s Farage failed to disclose funds from convicted criminal: Report

George Cottrell provided funds for Reform UK leader’s security, drivers, staff and accommodation, Sunday Times reports.

This immigrant served in the US military. Now he faces deportation

Benito Miranda Hernandez completed three tours during the Iraq war but now faces removal from the US to Mexico.

White nationalists march in Washington, DC, area during July 4 festivities

Donald Trump has faced condemnation for failing to forcefully reject white nationalists during his presidency.

The Statue of Liberty is framed by Argentina's Ara Libertad in the New York harbor during the International Parade of Sail, part of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Argentina's Ara Libertad ship sails by the Statue of Liberty in New York City as part of Sail250's Parade of Sail, part of the US's Independence Day festivities [Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo]

Macy's Fourth of July fireworks explode as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary on Independence Day in New York City, U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Macy's Fourth of July fireworks explode over New York City on July 4. [Carlos Barria/Reuters]

Willy Chirino performs at the FIFA Fan Fest on Independence Day to celebrate America's 250th anniversary in Miami, Florida, U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Marco Bello

Cuban singer-songwriter Willy Chirino performs at the FIFA Fan Fest on Independence Day in Miami, Florida. [Marco Bello/Reuters]

People attend the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence, as inclement weather moves across the area, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Cheney Orr TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Officials in Washington, DC, called on attendees at the Great American State Fair to seek shelter ahead of an evening thunderstorm on July 4. [Cheney Orr/Reuters]

A fan wearing a U.S. costume and holding a placard celebrating America's 250th birthday waits before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Canada and Morocco, in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

A football fan dressed as a US Revolutionary War hero waves a sign that reads 'Happy birthday USA' before the July 4 World Cup match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Texas. [Karen Warren/AP Photo]

New U.S. citizen and twice-deployed U.S. Marine Sgt. Diakaria Sangare, from Guinea, poses for a portrait following the naturalization ceremony on Independence Day at George Washington's Mount Vernon, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Twice-deployed Marine Sergeant Diakaria Sangare, one of the many immigrants serving in the US armed forces, poses for a portrait following his naturalisation ceremony in Alexandria, Virginia, on July 4. [Rod Lamkey Jr/AP Photo]

A giant American flag is displayed on the field before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

A giant American flag is spread across the baseball field in Washington, DC, before the July 4 game between the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. [Nick Wass/AP Photo]

Joey Chestnut and other competitive eaters consume hot dogs during the 2026 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Anna Connors)

Joey Chestnut and other competitive eaters race to swallow as many hot dogs as they can during the 2026 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4 in New York City. [Anna Connors/AP Photo]

Joey Chestnut gestures as he participates in the 2026 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, at Coney Island, Brooklyn in New York City, U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Jordan Tovin

Joey Chestnut gestures as he participates in the 2026 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island, New York City, on July 4. [Jordan Tovin/Reuters]

A man wears a stylish suit with the US flag as part of the Independence Day celebration ahead of the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026.

A man wears a US-flag-themed suit to the Texas World Cup match on July 4 between Morocco and Canada. [AFP]

A US Navy Band member peforms the national anthem as part of the Independence Day celebration ahead of the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026.

A US Navy Band performs before the World Cup match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Texas, in honour of US Independence Day. [AFP]

Members of the group Patriot Front exit a metro station, on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in New Carrollton, Maryland, U.S, July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION FROM "WASHINGTON, D.C" TO "NEW CARROLLTON, MARYLAND".

Members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front exit a metro station in New Carrollton, Maryland, as the group reportedly holds neighbourhood marches around the US capital on July 4. [Reuters]

epa13086059 Military planes fly over New York City during the Parade of Sail international naval gathering marking the 250th Independence Day, in New York, New York, USA, 04 July 2026. The US marks in 2026 the 250th anniversary of America, known as the Semiquincentennial or SemiQuin, the 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 04 July 1776. EPA/Kena Betancur

Military planes fly over New York City, spraying jets of red, white and blue, during the Sail250 Parade of Sail event on July 4. [Kena Betancur/EPA]

A man in nautical-themed clothing records images as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary on Independence Day in New York City, U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Angelina Katsanis

A sightseer in nautical clothing records the Sail250 Parade of Sails from the shores of New York City on July 4. [Angelina Katsanis/Reuters]

Flag bearers march, as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary on Independence Day in New York City, U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Angelina Katsanis

Military members wave flags in a march through New York City to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Independence Day. [Angelina Katsanis/Reuters]

The Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Marching Saints, of Kerkhoven, Minnesota, participate in the Capitol Hill Community 4th of July Parade marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence, after traveling to Washington for the America's Independence Day Parade which was canceled due to extreme heat, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

The Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Marching Saints twirl flags as they prepare to march in the Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC, an event that was ultimately cancelled due to excessive heat. [Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters]

A large American flag is seen during the "O Say Can You See!" event honoring America's 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

A large US flag waves over the 'O Say Can You See!' event in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 4. [Jon Cherry/AP Photo]

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 04: Protesters carry a reproduction of the Declaration of Independence as they participate in a "We The People 250" march during Fourth of July celebrations on July 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. Numerous events, activities, and fireworks are planned in celebration of America's 250th Anniversary amidst an extreme heat wave bringing dangerous triple digit temperatures to much of the eastern United States. Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by JOE RAEDLE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Protesters carry a reproduction of the Declaration of Independence as they participate in a 'We The People 250' through Washington, DC, on July 4. [Joe Raedle/Getty IMages via AFP]

Demonstrators at the 'We the People 250' march showcased a version of the Declaration of Independence that was roughly 700 feet long, or 233 metres, to denounce the erosion of civil rights. [Joe Raedle/Getty Images via AFP]