JUNE 25, 1940

Full News Archive

• Headline: Solicitor General Calls for Presidential Power. Impact: This call for increased executive power created a chain reaction where future presidents believed they could bypass checks and balances. Thanks, Biddle, for paving the way for reality TV stars to run the country!. Fact: The phrase 'executive power' has been used by many to justify everything from war to making questionable fashion choices..
• Headline: Phi Beta Kappa Honors City College Graduates. Impact: The selection of these Phi Beta Kappa members led to an overabundance of smugness in academic circles, resulting in more coffee shop debates about the merits of existential philosophy.. Fact: Being selected for Phi Beta Kappa means you're in the top 10% of your class. So, basically, you're among the elite—just like those who can recite Pi to 100 decimal places..
• Headline: Willkie Faces Opposition from Congress Group. Impact: The backlash against Willkie forged a new breed of political resistance, leading to future candidates learning to smile through the pain—because who doesn’t love the smell of political discontent?. Fact: In politics, being 'not fitting' often just means you're not as good at pretending to care as your opponents..
• Headline: Nine Acquitted of Sedition Plot; Mistrial Is Declared in Four Cases; 9 ARE ACQUITTED IN SEDITION TRIAL. Impact: The acquittal of these nine individuals sparked a bizarre trend of people thinking they could get away with anything, including wearing socks with sandals.. Fact: Sedition charges have historically been a great way to keep people quiet—so remember to stay on the good side of history, folks!.
• Headline: KNUDSEN SEES THE FORDS; They Confer for Some Hours, Presumably on Plane Production. Impact: Knudsen's meeting with the Fords may have led to the eventual creation of planes that could actually fly themselves—because who has time to pilot when you're busy being super rich?. Fact: The Ford name is synonymous with American innovation. Just don’t ask them about their experiments with flying cars. They’re still in therapy over that..
• Headline: JAPAN SENDS FLEET TO INDO-CHINA PORT; 'Protectorate' is Suggested in Tokyo--Britain Told Burma Road Must Be Closed. Impact: Japan's fleet move set off a series of global tensions that would eventually lead to a game of geopolitical chess stretching across decades. Who knew sending ships could lead to world wars?. Fact: The term 'protectorate' is often just a fancy way of saying, 'We're here to help... or take over, whichever comes first.'.
• Headline: HALT At 12:35 A.M.; Truce Goes Into Effect Six Hours After Rome Notifies Hitler DEMANDS NOT TOLD But Hesitation of French Envoys Is Taken as Hint of Their Severity French Objections Indicated Quietest Spot to Be Found FRENCH SIGN TRUCE ON ITALIAN TERMS Met by Chief of Protocol Italians March Into France. Impact: This truce was like a pause button on a conflict, proving that sometimes you just need a breather before diving back into chaos. Spoiler alert: Chaos inevitably returns.. Fact: Armistices can be as fleeting as social media trends. Blink, and you’ll miss it!.
• Headline: Sorority Honors Margaret Mead. Impact: Honoring Margaret Mead gave rise to a new generation of anthropologists who thought they could also become the next cultural icons—spoiler alert: most of them didn’t.. Fact: Margaret Mead's work was so influential that she made being an anthropologist almost as cool as being a rock star, minus the groupies..
• Headline: Mrs. Julia Colt Reports Burglary. Impact: The burglary reported by Mrs. Colt may have unintentionally started a trend of Beverly Hills residents installing state-of-the-art security systems, forever changing the landscape of home insurance.. Fact: In Beverly Hills, the only thing more valuable than your jewelry is your sense of security—because who wants to lose their diamond-encrusted dog collar?.
• Headline: Seven Votes for Bridges. Impact: These seven votes set a precedent for future political maneuvering, proving that sometimes all it takes is a handful of people to make a decision that affects millions. Talk about pressure!. Fact: In politics, a 'vote line-up' is often just a polite way of saying, 'Who can we convince to switch sides for our benefit?'.