This Fourth of July, Americans are experiencing a new kind of independence: independence from road trips, from BBQs, and from moving more than 10 feet from their couches.
As global oil prices hit record highs, gas stations have become shrines of despair. “I didn’t fill up my car,” said Karen from Texas. “I filled up my eyes—with tears.”
Bob from Ohio planned to visit Yellowstone. Instead, he and his family toured the kitchen, the bathroom, and the back porch. “It’s our Staycation Safari,” he said, as his son roasted a hot dog over a candle.
The White House urged Americans to “redefine freedom” as the ability to enjoy silence at home while your neighbor’s fireworks shake the windows.
Meanwhile, a TikTok trend called #FreedomFromFuel is encouraging teens to build bicycles from lawn furniture.
Experts predict gas prices will continue to rise—right alongside the national blood pressure.