By Nazifa Hoque
While you were working a summer job, traveling, or sleeping until noon, the country had a very busy summer. Here’s what you need to know before settling back into class.
It really was that hot. If the summer felt endless, the data backs you up. According to NOAA, temperatures nationwide averaged 74.4 degrees Fahrenheit from June through August, the warmest summer in 132 years of records, beating the previous marks set in 1936 and 2021 by 0.4 degrees. August alone averaged 75.6°F, the warmest August on record for the contiguous U.S.
America turned 250. On July 4, the nation marked the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As part of the celebration, a time capsule was buried at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, holding materials from all three branches of the federal government, the states and territories, and national partner organizations.
The Supreme Court made major decisions. On June 30, the Court ruled 6-3 that the Constitution guarantees automatic birthright citizenship to virtually all children born in the U.S., rejecting President Trump’s executive order on the issue. That same day, it ruled that states may ban transgender girls from sports at publicly funded schools. A day earlier, the justices expanded the president’s power to remove members of independent agencies, but also allowed Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to keep her job for now. The Court also ruled that states can count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day.
Big business, bigger numbers. On June 12, SpaceX went public in a record-setting $75 billion IPO that valued the company at $1.77 trillion and made CEO Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire.
Sports fans celebrated. The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games on June 13 to win the franchise’s third NBA title, with Jalen Brunson named Finals MVP. On July 19, Spain beat Argentina 1–0 in extra time to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Pop culture moments. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married at Madison Square Garden on July 3, with about 1,000 guests inside and thousands of fans gathered outside. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Zendaya, opened in U.S. theaters on July 17. In Chicago, the Obama Presidential Center, built around a museum about the 44th president, opened to the public on June 19.
What’s next? Summer is over, but the news isn’t slowing down. The U.S. midterm elections are on November 3, with control of both the Senate and the House at stake. If you’re 18 by then, make sure you’re registered to vote.