Funeral Ceremonies for Iran's Supreme Leader

two hundred and fifty years ago today, a declaration of independence from British rule. A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. I'm Scott Simon. I'm I Sharasco, and this is up first from NPR News Americans celebrate with events and communities all over the country last night at Mount Rushmore. Two years ago, they laughed at us. Now it's only respect. I don't want to tell you The best is yet to come are going so well, why do the president's former Republican allies want to create a new political party? And a funeral begins in Tehran for the late suupreme leadeer, Ayatolla Ali Kamine. So stay with us, we have the news you need to start your weekend Fireworks, parades, hot dogs, speeches. But this year's Fourth for July is complicated by a ferocious heat wave hitting much of the country and is also complicated by the country's deep political and cultural divides. And here's Brian Mann join us, Brian. thanks for being with us. Happy Iependence dayay, Scott. And also to you Let's begin with President Trump who spoke at Mount Rushmore last night. What did he say? Well, the speech began pretty traditionally for fourth of July weekend address. Trump spoke about what he sees as the exceptional nature of the United States But then he turned to darker themes arguing that the American way of life is under attack from immigrants and people on the left. There is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to Our way of life and our great success Trump speech he likened what he portrayed as this internal menace to Pearl Harbor in nine hundred and eleven The presresident's framing of this fourth of July has been controversial and question, right? That's right. Trump started this by bypassing a bipartisan commission that had been created to celebrate the two hundred fiftieth anniversary. Democrats last week issued a report accusing Trump of hijacking that was their word this Independence Day, turning into what they said what they said should be a moment of unity into a partisan event that enriched Trump's allies. NPR did reach out to Freedom two hundred fifty. That's the group Trump created to organize events for this fourth of July. A spokesperson, Daniel Alvarez called the Democrats' accusations categorically false end Partisans smear Brian, you've been talking to people in the streets of New York City about how they see the holiday. What do they tell you Well, know, despite all these tensions, people are finding ways to celebrate. I spoke with two friends, Lois Hyman and Linda Sidlaskz, who went to a historic tavern here in Lower Manhattan. We decided to have lunch at Francis Tavern because it was where you know the rebels used to gather in the early days of the Revolution, and it's a real revolutionary place so want on a revolutionary. And Sed Laskz told me, Scott that on this holiday weekend, they're celebrating, but they are also worried about the state of the country. These are the times that try men's souls So I think that our democracy is being stretched to the limit She was, of course, partially quoting Thomas Painne there from his seventeen seventy six essay, The American Crisis I do think it's also important to remember for a lot of folks, the fourourth of July is still just about having fun as I was out talking to people yesterday. I think my favorite interview was with Logan Longsworth. He's eight years old from New Jersey out on holiday with his parents. How I'm going to be celebrating the Fourth of July is I'm gonna like some firecrackers and stuff like that. and we also saw the Statue of Liberty. Can you say a thing that you like about the United States the Bald Eagle. I love that. I think we can all agree Scott Bald Eagles are pretty cool. Absolutely, the coolest One other kind of crisis, the fourourth of July, of course is the heat. A lot of states are celebrating, but they're trying to keep people safe at the same time. How's that working out You know, it's a real mess. Things got so hot yesterday. President Trump's great American State Fair had to close to the public through the afternoon in Washington DC. An indndependent dayay parade there has been canceled. Philadelphia also canceling parades, fire risk across the country, canceling some fireworks But there are still some fun things happening. Boston pops in Boston, big firework show in Seattle, but take water along, stay in the shade. People say limit your time outdoors to be safe. And here's Brian Man in New York City, Brian, thanks so much. Happy Holiday Tee you as well, Scott, thanks Though the founders complained about the summer heat in Philadelphia, it was pleasant there on this day in seventeen seventy six Thomas Jefferson recorded seventy six degrees at one PM before he may be joined by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams took the Declaration of Independence to be printed. And here's Ron Elvin join us now. Ron. thanks for being with us Good to be with you Scott, happyth of July. And happy fourth to you, my friend. He's causing many today's celebrations to be scaled back for safety's sake Well America's two hundred and fiftieth Birthdayy tamer What is multip partisan than the nineteen seventy six bicentennial, which we remember The day is young. It's still too early to judge, whether this heat dome will hold down the crowd sizes or shorten tempers or just put a damper on it all, but to some degree, that might be a good fit for the mood of this holiday which seems subdued compared to earlier eras. Polls show Americans are less optimistic and somewhat less patriotic than in past years One measure now shows Americans slightly less patriotic on average than citizens of other countries. and that's quite a departure from the past, and it's certainly more downbeat today than fifty years ago In nineteen seventy six, when the nightmares of Vietnam and Watergate, scandals were finally over and their memories were beginning to recede. The country was ready to move on, ready to believe its best days We're still ahead And yes, Americans were in a mood to parties that summer in big cities like New York and small town parades all over the country. The Supreme Court wrapped up its most recent session this week and released some of their most significant decisions, didn't Oh my, it was quite a package and it had gut punches for partisans on both sides Democrats were distressed that the court continued to dismantle restraints on campaign spending especially those that allow big contributors to coordinate spending with candidates But it was especially striking to see the shock and dismay on the right over the court's decision upholding birthright citizenship Now this has been around back to English common law before the American Revolution. It's been confirmed by the High Court more than once. And most legal observers expected it to be upheld once again. so many were surprised the vote was so close And that close vote surely lends momentum. to the Trump administration's efforts to minimize and even villainize immigration Mandatory financial disclosure this week revealed that President Trump made more than a billion dollars in his first year back in the White House. considerably more than the year before Is it only responsible to ask if he has enriched himself in office? Donald Trump was rich long before he was president But there was always a lot of debate about just how rich That debate is now over All presidents have added wealth while in office, but in recent decades with book deals and speaking fees, it's become easier than ever for a president to cash in They're never on a scale remotely comparable to this. and not with such an array of transactions that would seem to pose a conflict of interest for anyone in the Oval Office. And former Trump allies, Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene say they want to create a new political party Are we witnessing in twenty twenty six the two party system splintering? as more Republicans questioned President Trump MGa Republicans taken centrists and recent primary victories have produced more Democratic socialist candidates in the Democratic Party In a word, yes, both sides are finding it increasingly difficult to enforce party unity, difficult even to appeal to party spirit, or plead for party cohesion The parties can't control the actions and statements of prominent politicians who want to stand out who want to be where the voters seem to be. And they know what gets attention. They know what builds a following. especially in the wide open cyberspaces of social media And Per Senior contributor, Ron Elving, Ron, thanks you very much for being with us. good holiday to you And to you, Scott, thank you It's been four months since Iran's supreme leader was killed in US Israeli airirstrikes, and now Iran will bury him Those are the sounds of a huge crowd of people in Tehran who attended the first of a series of ceremonies planned for Ayatollah Ali Kamanhi's funeral. Ceremonies and processions across five cities are planned. Days long funeral in Per Hadel L Shelchy He covering this from Istanbul, Hadil, thanks for being with us. Good morning, Scott. What's the day look like in Iran? Well, Iranian state media showed a massive crowd of people at the Imam Khomeni Grand Musula, which is a large prayer complex in Tehran. People were visiting Ayatoah Ali Khammene's casket, which was draped with the Iranian flag. The caskets of four of his killed family members were also there We saw men and women wearing black. They wept openly. womomen slapped their heads with their hands in mourning. Men beat their chests in unison, which is a tradition in Shia funerals. There were also chance of death to America and big red signs that reed killed Trump Some people waved flags, red ones that symbolizeed revenge, and many yellow ones that represented the Iranian backed Lebanese militia, Hezbollah, which has been fighting with Israel since the beginning of the war. Now a spokesperson for the funeral preparation said the ceremonies were delayed this long because of quote the war conditions and what he called the brutal U.S invasion. But really Scott, right now This week, the funeral is a way for the Iranian regime to try to show stability and power to Iranians and the rest of the world, sort of sending a message that the Islamic revolutionary power that leads the country is still enjoying popularity How about the attendance by world leaders and Iranian officials? Well, yesterday, a number of official foreign delegations and religious leaders attended a ceremony as Kaminee lay in state, Russia, which has supported Iran during the war, sent former presresident Dmitry Medvedv, and Pakistani Pime Minister was there. The presresident of Iraq was in attendance as well as the Afghan foreign minister, and even Saudi Arabia, which has been at odds with Iran for decades, and where Iran attacked a US military base in March sent a delegation. There was also a group of officials from Hamas there. Now from the Iranian side, Iran's president, foreign minister, and the speaker of Parliament, who's been the head of the ceasefire negotiating team with the U.S. were all seen praying near the caskets. But so far there's been no sign of Iran's current leader Kammane's son, Mushhaba Khamene who is in fact yet to be seen in public at all since he took over in March Nadal, what are Ronian saying about the funeral So Hhaminee was a divisive figure in Iran. He was supreme leader since nineteen eighty nine, and he oversaw the expansion of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for the killing of at least ten thousand protesters in Iran according to rights groups. We spoke to a thirty two year old woman whose brother was killed during the protests in January, and she asked NPR not to use her name fearing the government She says that even in the Ayatullah's death, he still causes them torment. We also spoke to thirty three year old Fatme, who also asked NPR to only use her first name because she was afraid of the government, said she argued with her family all the time, especially her mother, who she says, sees Kamene as part of her religion Mison She is definitely going to take part in the funeral Fata says about her mother. The Ayatlla will be buried Thursday, but else is planned Mourners will visit the body over the weekend in Tehran. On Monday, a funeral procession will take the body to the city of Kome. The procession will then cross into Iraq, where he'll be taken to Shia religious sites in the holy cities of Nejf and Karblla. Finally, he'll be transported back to Iran, where he'll be buried in his birthplace of Mashhad on Thursday, and Iranian officials are saying they expect millions people to attend And Pierid Lo Schelzi, thank you 're wecome That's up first for Saturday Fth of July twenty six. I'm Scott Simon. And I'm Sherasco, Dave Mistitch produed today's podcast along with Gabe O'Connor, Andy Craig, and Michael Radcliffe. Our editors are Louise Clemments, Ed McNulty, Miguel Messias, Jacob Fenston, and Melisssa Gray. Our director is Elena Torick, who worked alongside teechnical director, Jay Siz Our engineering support comes from Tom Marquito, Valentina Rodriguez Sanchez, and Tiffany Vera Castro Proud Patriots all And just like the spirit of seventy six with a drum and Ticorner hat, are senior supervising editor Shannon Rose. In the center on her drum, paradidling away. It's executive producer Evie Stone. And Fife to the lips. Bandage to the head. It's none other than our deputy managing editor Katherine Laidlaw Tomorrow on the Sunday story, Division in the Land of Lincoln, fed up with the dominance of Chicago politics, a growing number of Illinois's rural counties want to secceed and create a fifty first state. Thank you for listening and for supporting your local NVA station and if you need to find yours Go to stations. npr d. org. Don't let the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of this country distract you from that. You gota you gotta do that and also stay safe in that heat. Yeah, stayfe. Hydrate, hydrate. Hydrate Look out for shade.. Sit down, take a nap. Yes. And listen to us while you do. Exactly.