NOVEMBER 12, 1941

Full News Archive

• Headline: FDR's Call to Defend Freedom. Impact: This warning prompted a worldwide panic that led to the creation of the first-ever 'World War Preparedness' bingo cards. People started marking their squares based on the most bizarre predictions.. Fact: The Soldier's Tomb in Arlington is not just a resting place; it also serves as a really expensive backdrop for political speeches..
• Headline: Post-War Economic Planning in 1941. Impact: This financial demand sparked a chain reaction where every country began hoarding cash, leading to the Great Piggy Bank Crisis of 1945, where people were literally breaking their banks.. Fact: 23 billion dollars in 1945 would be equivalent to a small country's GDP today. So if you were hoping to retire, maybe try a little harder..
• Headline: NEW CHILE EXECUTIVE ASSAILED BY RIGHTISTS; Aguirre Move Called Untimely -- Mendez Gains Backing. Impact: Aguirre's move set off a chain reaction of political misadventures that made 'who will lead Chile?' the hottest topic in town—rivaling even the popularity of avocado toast.. Fact: Rightists and leftists in Chile have been battling it out for so long, they could probably host their own reality TV show called 'Survivor: Political Edition.'.
• Headline: CALLS STRIKE IN JERSEY; C.I.O. Union Orders Walkout at New Brunswick Defense Plant. Impact: The strike led to a nationwide trend of 'spontaneous' walkouts, inspiring future generations of workers to realize that sometimes all you need is to just stop showing up.. Fact: The C.I.O. Union was not a secret organization for superheroes, though the way they organized strikes could make you think otherwise!.
• Headline: ACTORS' AGENTS TO PAY; Equity to Charge $100 Initiation and $25 Yearly for Permits. Impact: The initiation fees for actors' agents caused a schism in the industry that ultimately led to an underground network of agents who were willing to work for pizza and a handshake.. Fact: Charging agents for permits is a bit like charging cats for the privilege of being adorable. It's just wrong..
• Headline: LITVINOFF OBTAINS SECOND HIGH POST; Russian Envoy to Washington Named Deputy Commissar for Foreign Affairs. Impact: Litvinov's appointment led to an unforeseen increase in Russian diplomats adopting ironic mustaches, believing it made them more approachable, which only confused everyone further.. Fact: Deputy Commissars are essentially the 'vice presidents' of foreign affairs, which explains why they never get the last slice of pizza during meetings..
• Headline: LISTS 3 GENERALS SLAIN; Moscow Claim on Leningrad Sector Is Denied in Berlin. Impact: The reported killings of generals led to a game of 'telephone' between Berlin and Moscow, where each side tried to outdo the other with increasingly absurd stories of military prowess.. Fact: The generals' deaths were so sensationalized that they could have easily been the plot for a blockbuster war movie—if only the scripts hadn't been classified..
• Headline: 7 Vessels Sunk, 5 Damaged In New Attacks Off Italy; British Submarines Get Another Destroyer and Four Troop or Supply Craft -- Week's Naval Toll Rises to 19. Impact: The sinking of vessels led to a sudden surge in pirate-themed parties across the UK, which became a cultural phenomenon that lasted until the invention of the smartphone.. Fact: The British submarines were apparently channeling their inner 'Hunt for Red October' vibes, but sadly, they didn't have Sean Connery on board..