JANUARY 9, 1999

Full News Archive

• Headline: UNHEEDED WARNINGS: A special report.; Before Bombings, Omens and Fears. Impact: The ignored warnings about embassy safety may have inspired a plethora of conspiracy theories about government incompetence, ultimately leading to more stringent security measures that annoy everyone at the airport. Fact: It's fascinating that some people actually think warnings are just suggestions. Spoiler alert: they're not. Just ask the State Department.
• Headline: AT&T Alters A Key Term In TCI Deal. Impact: AT&T's decision to alter terms in its TCI deal created a ripple effect in corporate mergers, leading to the current era where companies change their names more often than people change their socks. Fact: Did you know that mergers can often feel like two people sharing a pizza? At first, it’s great—but eventually, someone wants the last slice, and things get messy.
• Headline: One Senate, Indivisible (For Now). Impact: The Senate's temporary unity over impeachment showed that when faced with a common enemy (the embarrassment of their own making), even politicians can pretend to get along. But don’t worry, they went back to bickering in no time. Fact: Fun fact: The Senate has been around long enough that it has seasoned members who remember when bipartisanship was more than just a hashtag.
• Headline: 2 Officials Quit in Salt Lake City As Olympic Scandal Details Grow. Impact: The Olympic scandal led to a generation of stricter regulations in sports bidding. Now, every time you see the Olympics, remember: it used to be about athleticism, but now it’s also about who can bribe the best. Fact: Did you know that bribery in sports isn't just limited to the Olympics? I mean, have you ever seen a kid trying to get a coveted position on a youth soccer team?.
• Headline: New York Democrats Pin Hopes On Clinton (Hillary, That Is). Impact: Hillary Clinton's Senate run changed the political landscape for women in the U.S., leading to a future where everyone assumed that being the First Lady was just a stepping stone to political office. Thanks, Hillary!. Fact: Did you know that before Hillary, the idea of a First Lady running for office was as likely as a cat winning a dog show? Times have changed!.
• Headline: As Parents Sweat It Out, 4th Graders Cram for New Test. Impact: The anxiety surrounding standardized tests led to a wave of educational reform, which inadvertently resulted in a generation who can write essays but still can't find their way out of a paper bag. Fact: Did you know that standardized tests were originally designed to find out how smart you are? Now they just show how stressed you can get over a weekend.