POLITICS

High School Teacher's Theory Frames 'The Wizard of Oz' as a Political Parable

Was the classic fairytale meant to be a metaphor for the Gilded Age?

6 Modern Societies Where Women Rule

Who runs the world? In these six societies: Girls.

What Does a U.S. Ambassador Really Do?

The answer depends a lot on whether you bought your way into the job.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Workout Might Ruin You

Notorious RBG can bench press 70 pounds.

6 Times the Wrong Winner Was Announced

Mistakes happen.

Impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson. Harper's Weekly, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Why Was Andrew Johnson Impeached?

Some presidential firsts aren't so quaint.

9 Facts About the ACLU

It's actually two organizations.

How Are Supreme Court Justices Chosen?

Since George Washington’s first appointment, 112 people have served on the highest court in the land. With the recent death of Antonin Scalia, that number will soon rise to 113.

A Brief(ing) History of the White House Press Secretary

The job is newer than you might think.

United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs Division, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

When Did U.S. Presidents Start Using Speechwriters?

Warren G. Harding was the first president with an official speechwriter, but even George Washington’s famous farewell address was prepared with the assistance of James Madison—five years before he delivered it.

The Top-Secret Inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes

The March 5, 1877 inauguration of Hayes was merely for show. Though the public didn't know it, he was already their president.

Barack Obama being sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on January 20, 2009.

35 Fascinating Facts About Presidential Inaugurations Past

From drunk vice presidents to poisoned pigeons, anything can happen on Inauguration Day—and often does.

Watch 114-Year-Old Footage of Teddy Roosevelt's Presidential Inauguration

Thousands of onlookers lined the streets, watching as Roosevelt and a contingent of Rough Riders made their way to the U.S. Capitol.

9 Facts You Should Know About Maggie Hassan

Advocating for a son with cerebral palsy helped propel her into government work.

A Brief History of Presidential Libraries

The modern presidential library is more than a roadside attraction.

9 Things You Might Not Know About Catherine Cortez Masto

As a tourism official, her father green-lighted the Las Vegas slogan “What happens here stays here.”

By Gilbert Stuart - link, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

How Many Electoral Votes Did George Washington Have?

Our first president can also claim the only unanimous electoral college wins in history.

Governor of Alabama (and notorious segregationist) George Wallace's independent run for the presidency in 1968 caused the government to truly question the efficacy of the Electoral College.

The First (And Last) Serious Challenge to the Electoral College System

No election cycle would be complete without a debate over whether or not the Electoral College should be abolished.

United Nations Photo via Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The International Territory in the Middle of New York City

There is a way to leave the United States without stepping out of Manhattan.

When Richard Nixon Wanted to be a Rapper

Yes, that Richard Nixon.

Post-Truth Named Word of the Year By Oxford Dictionaries

It beat out "adulting" and "coulrophobia" (fear of clowns) for the distinction.

Nebraska Senator Moonlights as an Uber Driver

Cash-strapped millennials aren’t the only ones who understand the value of a side hustle.

Can the Electoral College Reverse the Results of an Election?

Every four years, people talk about the oddness of the Electoral College, often leading to questions of whether it can change or reverse the results of an election.

Want to Marry a Canadian? There's an App for That

Introducing Maple Match, the dating app that will pair you with a paramour from the land of snowshoes and syrup.

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