Politics
George Washington’s Farewell to the Nation Marked the Birth of American Democracy
In 1796, the first president voluntarily left office, cementing the significance of a lofty ideal for his young country
When Republicans Became 'Red' and Democrats Became 'Blue'
The 2000 presidential election cemented the color-coded nature of political parties. Prior to that race, the colors were often reversed on electoral maps
How Snake Oil Became a Symbol of Fraud and Deception
The terms “snake oil” and “snake-oil salesperson” are part of the vernacular thanks to Clark Stanley, a quack doctor who marketed a product for joint pain in the late 19th century
Back in the 19th Century, Your Election Ballot Could Double as a Work of Art
During and after the Civil War, inventive illustrations allowed Democrats and Republicans to turn American ballots into powerful propaganda
What the Long History of Mail-In Voting in the U.S. Reveals About the Election Process
A recent exhibition shows how soldiers sent in votes during the Civil War and World War II, as many Americans would in 2020 following the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic
This Defeated Presidential Candidate, Once the 'Best-Known Man in America,' Died in a Sanatorium Less Than a Month After Losing the Election
Newspaper editor Horace Greeley unsuccessfully ran against incumbent Ulysses S. Grant in November 1872. Twenty-four days later, he died of unknown causes at a private mental health facility
When a Trailblazing Suffragist and a Crusading Prosecutor Teamed Up to Expose an Election Conspiracy
An unlikely duo exposed political corruption in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1914—and set a new precedent for fair voting across the country
A Century Ago, a Mob Brutally Attacked an American Diplomat in Persia. His Death Shaped U.S.-Iran Relations for Decades
The July 1924 killing of Robert Imbrie fueled the rise of the Pahlavi dynasty and set the stage for both a CIA-backed 1953 coup and the 1979 Iran hostage crisis
How the Great Depression Fueled a Grassroots Movement to Create a New State Called Absaroka
In the 1930s, disillusioned farmers and ranchers fought to carve a 49th state out of northern Wyoming, southeastern Montana and western South Dakota
The Top-Secret World War II Mission That Killed Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the Heir Apparent to the Political Dynasty
In August 1944, the older brother of Robert and John F. Kennedy died while piloting a drone aircraft over England, leaving his younger siblings to fulfill their father's dreams
New Banksy Murals Appeared in London Every Day This Week. What Do They Mean?
The street artist has unveiled five animal-themed artworks, sparking debate about their intended message
The History of Presidential Assassination Attempts, From Andrew Jackson to Teddy Roosevelt
Before last weekend's attack on Donald Trump, would-be assassins unsuccessfully targeted Ronald Reagan, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and seven other sitting presidents or candidates for office
When a Debate Flop Raised Concerns About Ronald Reagan's Fitness to Run for Re-Election
During the 1984 campaign, the 73-year-old president meandered his way through his first face-off against Walter Mondale, prompting questions about his mental acuity
ISS Astronauts Forced to Briefly Take Shelter as Russian Satellite Suddenly Breaks Up in Orbit
Officials are unsure why the satellite fractured unexpectedly, splintering into nearly 200 pieces
Why the 1924 Democratic National Convention Was the Longest and Most Chaotic of Its Kind in U.S. History
A century ago, the party took a record 103 ballots and 16 days of intense, violent debate to choose a presidential nominee
Extreme Heat and Wildfire Smoke Should Be Considered 'Major Disasters' by FEMA Amid Climate Crisis, Advocates Say
Despite killing more people in the U.S. each year than hurricanes, floods or tornadoes, heat waves aren’t currently eligible for emergency funding from the disaster relief agency
What Does George Orwell's '1984' Mean in 2024?
Now 75 years old, the dystopian novel still rings alarm bells about totalitarian rule
Mexico City's Reservoirs Are at Risk of Running Out of Water
Amid climate change, drought and aging infrastructure, the largest metropolitan area in North America is struggling to conserve water in a major reservoir system
Rome's Talking Statues Have Served as Sites of Dissent for Centuries
Beginning in the Renaissance, locals affixed verses protesting various societal ills to six sculptures scattered across the Italian city
Seven Major Nations Agree to Phase Out Coal by 2035, Though Vague Language Leaves Wiggle Room
The wealthy, industrialized countries set a flexible schedule to cut one of the dirtiest fossil fuels from their economies
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