Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Is the Great American State Fair 'packed'?

Trump touts massive crowds. USA TODAY checked if that was true. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
Tuesday, June 30

The Daily Briefing

 

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Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Start with these reads:

Trump called a housing affordability bill a "yawn."
Kentucky floods inundated homes and streets.
The Strawberry Moon peaked last night.

Nicole Fallert and Jane Onyanga-Omara here, bringing you the news to know on Tuesday.

Trump touts 'packed' Great American State Fair, but is it?

The Great American State Fair continues Tuesday on the National Mall.

President Donald Trump said the 16-day event was “packed with happy people,” but a USA TODAY visit Monday found light crowds, short lines and plenty of open space, though it remains unclear what the July 4th holiday weekend will bring. Meanwhile, extreme heat is coming.

If you're looking to toast America's big birthday, do so with a free beer.

More news to know now

The wave of progressive candidates challenging mainstream Democrats may drown Sens. Michael Bennet and  John Hickenlooper in Colorado's primaries today.
What the Lisa Cook ruling means: The Supreme Court ruled Trump cannot fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — a decision seen as a loss for the president.
Exclusive: The landmark housing bill that Congress approved last week will become law with or without President Trump's signature, House Speaker Mike Johnson says.

Get USA TODAY at the top of your search results: Add us as preferred source on Google.

FIFA World Cup

Wild penalty shootout sends one team to World Cup round of 16

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Paraguay players celebrate after Jose Canale #13 of Paraguay scores the sixth penalty in a penalty shootout for victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Mass. Michael Reaves, Getty Images

Germany's Jonathan Tah nearly had the go-ahead goal in extra time. Instead, Paraguay’s Orlando Gill will be a hero in his homeland. Gill saved the first shot of a penalty shootout at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Paraguay defeated Germany following a 1-1 draw, 4-3 on penalty kicks.  

Things to talk about

The wedding the world is waiting for

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce still haven't confirmed when or where they'll get married. But since reports linked the couple's big day to Madison Square Garden on July 3, new details have continued to emerge — from public permits and venue schedules to comments from teammates, city officials and the bride and groom. Here are some of our biggest burning questions.

Before you go

Amanda Batula is out from "Summer House."
Shop Sephora's "quiet hours."
Oh, to be Bad Bunny at Wimbledon.

Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.

 

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DON'T MISS

How did Trump do Monday at Supreme Court? Here's a scorecard

President Donald Trump, next to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, arrives to deliver the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 24, 2026.

President Donald Trump, next to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, arrives to deliver the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 24, 2026. Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS

The Supreme Court dealt the Trump agenda major blows on economic regulation and mail-in voting, but also expanded Trump's power over federal agencies.

 

KEEP READING

What you need to know today

The World Cup round of 32 is underway, which means teams are beginning to qualify for the round of 16. Canada is through. See who else will join them.

Canada's midfielder #07 Stephen Eustaquio celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between South Africa and Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026.  (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)

Is the lottery curse real? To find out, USA TODAY tracked more than 30 Powerball winners from the past decade. Here's what we found.

Illustration by

The changes on the southern border reshaped Native, Spanish and Mexican communities, telling a story of resilience and resistance.

Nicholas Natividad looks across the U.S.-Mexico border between Ciudad Juárez and Sunland Park, N.M., in the Paso del Norte region. A descendant of families who lived through multiple shifts of the border, Natividad studies how generations of Mexican Americans and Indigenous communities have preserved their culture and identity amid changing national lines.

Frankie Grande's memoir "Supergay!" is an ode to queerness, sci-fi nerds and his sobriety. He talks Broadway, addiction and his sister Ariana Grande.

Frankie Grande poses for a portrait at USA TODAY headquarters in Manhattan on June 26th, 2026.

The World Cup round of 32 is underway, which means teams are beginning to qualify for the round of 16. Canada is through. See who else will join them.

Canada's midfielder #07 Stephen Eustaquio celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between South Africa and Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026.  (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)

Is the lottery curse real? To find out, USA TODAY tracked more than 30 Powerball winners from the past decade. Here's what we found.

Illustration by

The changes on the southern border reshaped Native, Spanish and Mexican communities, telling a story of resilience and resistance.

Nicholas Natividad looks across the U.S.-Mexico border between Ciudad Juárez and Sunland Park, N.M., in the Paso del Norte region. A descendant of families who lived through multiple shifts of the border, Natividad studies how generations of Mexican Americans and Indigenous communities have preserved their culture and identity amid changing national lines.

Frankie Grande's memoir "Supergay!" is an ode to queerness, sci-fi nerds and his sobriety. He talks Broadway, addiction and his sister Ariana Grande.

Frankie Grande poses for a portrait at USA TODAY headquarters in Manhattan on June 26th, 2026.
 

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Penalty shootout sent World Cup team home

Netherlands vs. Morocco became the second World Cup match of the day decided by a penalty shootout. The winner advances to the round of 16. ...