POLITICS

Gender-Neutral U.S. Passports Are Coming Soon

The gender rules for U.S. passports got loosened last year. Soon, they’ll be more inclusive than ever.

Next year's spring forward could be our last ever.

The Senate Just Passed a Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

The Senate has unanimously decided that the Daylight Saving Time system of falling back and springing forward just isn’t worth it.

Some French Poutine Restaurants Have Had to Explain That They’re Not Affiliated With Vladimir Putin

In French, Vladimir Putin’s surname is spelled ‘Poutine,’ which is causing problems for the country’s poutine eateries.

Chernobyl's nuclear power plant is in crisis.

Chernobyl Has Lost Power in Ukraine, Raising Concerns Over Escaping Radiation

It’s a development that could potentially have serious repercussions for Europe.

Why Is Ukraine’s Capital City Now Called ‘Kyiv,’ Not ‘Kiev’?

‘Kyiv’ is not a new name for the capital of Ukraine—and the Kyiv-or-Kiev discussion isn’t new, either.

Zelenskyy performed the role of Paddington in two feature films.

Yes, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Voiced Paddington Bear

Zelenskyy had a successful acting career before becoming Ukraine's president, including a stint as the marmalade-loving bear in two feature films.

Pennsylvania state capitol building in Harrisburg.

What’s the Difference Between a State and a Commonwealth?

Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Massachusetts are technically commonwealths, not states. Here's the meaning behind the term.

An 1875 illustration by artist Jules David.

How Did ‘The Gilded Age’ Get Its Name?

The time period that inspired HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’ was opulent—but its golden veneer masked something less glamorous.

Cleopatra depicted in a calendar print by Beatrice Decker.

The Royal Rundown on Cleopatra's Children

Cleopatra famously had relationships with the Roman generals Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Less, however, is remembered about the four children she had with these men.

Dan Quayle in 1999 and Elijah Wood in 2004.

When Dan Quayle and 12-Year-Old Elijah Wood Starred in a 1994 Super Bowl Commercial

It probably wasn’t a coincidence that Dan Quayle, who famously misspelled ‘potato,’ started shilling for potato chips.

New California Law Will Require Period Products to be Free In All Public Schools and Colleges Beginning in 2022

Starting in 2022, California's public colleges and schools grades six through 12 will be required to provide free pads and tampons to their students.

Abenaki filmmaker and performer Alanis Obomsawin

11 Indigenous Leaders You Should Know

These Indigenous politicians, activists, linguists, teachers, and artists—who work to preserve their heritage and secure civil rights—deserve to be better known.

20 Headline-Making Animals

Whether their fame lasted for 15 minutes or a lifetime, the notoriety these animals received was well-deserved.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg during a Supreme Court photo shoot in 2006.

Notorious RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and Work Will Be the Subject of a New Exhibition at the New-York Historical Society

‘Notorious RBG,’ the bestselling book, has inspired a traveling retrospective dedicated to Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Nelson Rockefeller (left) resigned as New York's governor after Gerald Ford (right) chose him as vice president. Rockefeller's lieutenant governor Malcolm Wilson took over.

What’s the Gubernatorial Line of Succession in the United States?

The lieutenant governor is to the gubernatorial line of succession what the vice president is to the presidential line of succession. Yes, there are exceptions.

A High Schooler Will Have Their Hannibal Fan Art Displayed at the U.S. Capitol

A high school student's 'Hannibal' fan art was selected as a winner of the Congressional Art Competition and will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building.

When a Founding Father Invited Prince Henry of Prussia to Rule America

As part of the "Prussian scheme," some of America's Founding Fathers invited the Prince of Prussia to rule the United States as king.

A cartoon depicting Irish rent boycotts from December 1880.

The Word Boycott Comes From a British Land Agent Shunned by His Town

When Charles Boycott tried to evict struggling Irish farmers during a famine, they ran him right out of Ireland.

Milan "Mejla" Hlavsa (left) and Vratislav Brabenec of The Plastic People of the Universe perform in New York City on July 18, 1998.

How a Czech Rock Band Helped Smash the Iron Curtain

The Plastic People of the Universe started out covering Velvet Underground songs in Prague clubs. By 1989, the band had helped crush communism in the Eastern Bloc.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey in 2018.

100 Fascinating Facts About the British Royal Family

The British royal family has a history of intrigue and scandal—and at least one royal shoe breaker-inner.

Doris Miller saved a number of lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Doris Miller, the Naval Cook Who Became a Hero of Pearl Harbor

Doris Miller was stationed on the USS 'West Virginia' when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Despite being prohibited from gunnery training due to his race, Miller ended up saving an untold number of lives.

Mattel Adds an Eleanor Roosevelt Barbie to Its ‘Inspiring Women’ Series

Eleanor Roosevelt is joining Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, Sally Ride, and other ‘Inspiring Women’ Barbies.

Chumbawamba's Danbert Nobacon and June Abbott in 1992.

When Chumbawamba Released an Album Celebrating Margaret Thatcher’s Death

The “Tubthumping” rockers bid adieu to the Iron Lady with a touching musical tribute featuring “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead.”

Yousuf Karsh, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0

7 Fascinating Facts About Winston Churchill

Although Winston Churchill is best known as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, Churchill had plenty of other accomplishments beyond his political and military endeavors.

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