9/11/2001 Moves From Memory to Commemoration

Twenty-two years after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, young people born after the attacks have reached maturity and are no longer inspired by them to join the military. They now join for other reasons -- to pay for college, to learn new skills, to see the world, to be of …

Death of Newspapers Leads to Incivility, Hyper-partisan Divisions

PBS News Hour: "Over the past few decades, more than 2,000 newspapers across the country have closed, leaving many communities without a reliable source of local information. Researchers say this crisis in journalism, driven by changes in technology, is fueling the country's political divisions. Judy Woodruff visited a community in Texas that recently lost its …

Globalization Created My Family…And Backlash

Globalization created my family, jobs, possessions, pets, food, entertainment, and backlash from those left out of the trend. If not for globalization trends since the 1990s, my family, and several of our job opportunities would not exist. Four out of seven members of my immediate family (including my two dogs) were born outside the United …

US, Australia, India, and Japan Ally to Counter Chinese Influence in Asia

In response to China's growing economic and military power, possible global dominance in the 21st century, or perceived security threat, in 2007 the US joined with Australia, India, and Japan to form The Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. China disparages the group, calling it an "Asian NATO," with a Cold War mentality. But the …

How the Supreme Court Decided the 2000 Election

History.com: "Learn how Florida ended up determining whether Al Gore or George W. Bush would win the U.S. presidency in 2000. See how a vote recount in the state led to the U.S. Supreme Court giving the election to Bush and subsequently changed voting standards." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-nR_hmS6V0

Nancy Pelosi, First Female Leader of Congress, Steps Down

Nancy Pelosi, the first woman Speaker of the House, has announced she will not seek a new term in congressional leadership. She served as Speaker from 2007 to 2011 in the majority, and again from 2018 through 2022, helping both Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden achieve legislative victories, and acting as a foil to …

2008 Election of Barack Obama: Breakthrough Moment in Black American History

Crash Course Black American History #50: "Barack Obama was the first Black man elected President in the United States in 2008. In this episode, Clint Smith will explore the early life, political career, presidential campaign, and legislative milestones of Barack Obama." Transcript. The comments below this video on Youtube.com are also interesting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKWEwBxDd9k Clint's book, …

Hurricane Katrina Devastated New Orleans, LA in 2005

Crash Course Black American History #49: "In this episode, Clint Smith details his experience as a teenager in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005. The widespread devastation of Hurricane Katrina was a result of faulty levees and a fumbled response by FEMA, and it hit Black residents the hardest. Today, we'll take …

The War on Drugs Disproportionately Damaged African Americans

Crash Course Black American History #42: "The War on Drugs is a decades-long United States policy intended to curb illegal drug use and trafficking. Long story short: it has not worked to reduce drug use or trade, and the policy has had devastating effects, especially on communities of color. Today we'll talk about the history …

On Seizing Opportunities, From Barack Obama and Ted Kennedy

When Barack Obama, just a freshman senator from Illinois, elected in 2004, was considering in 2006 whether or not to run for president in 2008, Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy pulled him aside and gave him this advice, according to Obama's memoir: “You think you may not be ready, that you’ll do it a more convenient …