POLITICS

Why Macedonia Is Getting a New Name

The new title may help the Balkan nation finally join the EU.

Why Did Russia Sell Alaska to the United States of America?

The decision to purchase the territory was much derided at the time.

14 Surprising Facts About Robert F. Kennedy

The slain civil rights advocate wasn't above a bar fight.

8 Things You Might Not Know About Betty Friedan

The author of 'The Feminine Mystique' transformed gender equality in the 20th century.

North Korea Might Soon Welcome Its First-Ever McDonald's

The country's new diplomacy plan involves Big Macs.

Toubletap, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

The World's Friendliest Territorial Dispute Could Finally Be Over

Canada and Denmark are one step closer to resolving their whisky war over tiny Hans Island.

5 Things You Might Not Know About Henry Kissinger

3. A 1972 poll of Playboy bunnies selected him as the man with whom Hef’s ladies would most like to go out on a date.

The Time Ben Franklin and John Adams Shared a Bed

The Founding Fathers were forced to shack up for a night. Then argued over the window.

Harris & Ewing, Library of Congress, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

10 Fascinating Facts About Huey Long

FDR considered the Louisiana governor-turned-senator one of the "most dangerous men in the country."

Why Swaziland Was Just Renamed eSwatini

Yes, they were tired of being confused with Switzerland. But that was only part of the problem.

How the Log Cabin Became an American Symbol

We have the Swedes—and William Henry Harrison—to thank.

When Topps Fought Terrorism with Trading Cards

Three Rudy Giulianis might get you one Condoleezza Rice.

This Car Vending Machine in China Is Free—But Only If You Have a High "Social Credit Score"

No, this isn't an episode of "Black Mirror."

National Portrait Gallery, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

20 Powerful Quotes From Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was known for being an abolitionist, writer, and dazzling speaker. Here's a selection of some of his great quotes.

The Uncertain Fates of Eastern Europe’s Communist Monuments

Some Communist memorials lie in ruins, while others have found a vibrant afterlife.

Richard Nixon and 12 Other Celebrity Quakers

Though you probably remember learning all about Quakers and their doctrine of the "Inner Light" in middle school, your teacher probably didn't tell you that James Dean was one.

House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and Donald Trump arrive for a meeting with the House Republican conference.

What Does the Sergeant at Arms Do?

Both the House and the Senate have their own Sergeant at Arms, and their visibility is highest during the State of the Union address. But what do they do the other 364 days of the year?

Grave Sightings: Hubert Humphrey

Before he died, the former VP extended an act of kindness to a political rival.

That Hilarious Story About Taft Getting Stuck in His Bathtub? It’s Not True

He did, however, have another embarrassing—and very real—bathtub incident.

When Margaret Thatcher Refused to Share a Plane With a Panda

The Iron Lady didn't play when it came pandas.

5 Fast Facts About Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Iceland’s New Prime Minister

The avowed environmentalist is the second woman to serve as the prime minister of Iceland.

The Christmas Eve Fire That Destroyed the West Wing

Herbert Hoover's first year in office had already gone worse than anyone could have expected ... then the West Wing burned down.

Ralph Heimans/Buckingham Palace/PA Wire via Getty Images

The Cult of Prince Philip: In Tanna, Vanuatu, Prince Philip Was Worshipped As a Deity

To the people of Tanna in Vanuatu, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was more than royalty—he was a bona fide deity.

The Funky History of George Washington's Fake Teeth

Mount Vernon holds perhaps the most famous dentures in American history: those of Founding Father George Washington.

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