government

American officials exchanged Soviet spy Rudolf Abel for the American U-2 spyplane pilot Francis Gary Powers in the 1962 “Bridge of Spies” transfer.

Soviet spy Rudolf Abel might have never been caught were it not for a Russian turncoat and a newspaper delivery boy who thought he’d been stiffed.

The Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War from 1961 to 1989.

The U.S. and USSR employed spies, quelled internal dissent, made allies abroad, and stockpiled nuclear weapons in this proxy war.

The Equal Rights Amendment is the best-known Constitutional amendment that is not yet part of the Constitution.

Since 1789, Congress has sent 33 constitutional amendments to the states for ratification. Here’s the scoop on the six amendments that didn't make the grade.

The space agency helped out on a landmark criminal case in 1990.

A map of the 63 National Parks in the U.S.

From Acadia to Zion, the U.S. has some pretty majestic national parks. Here’s one fun fact about every single one—plus a map so you can see where they all are.

2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin had a concession speech written up for election night—but wasn’t allowed to deliver it.

For every speech, there are a bunch of versions that ended up on the writers' room floor. Here are 12 speeches that were written but, for a variety of reasons, never delivered.

It was about modernization—and also politics.

Sometimes the letter of the law has tough things to say about, well, letters.

There‘s a FasTrak toll scam running rampant.

Received a text about unpaid tolls? You may be the target of a new phishing scam.

The Scottish government won’t be rounding up people’s pets any time soon.

We can confirm this suit is pretty ugly.

We cannot confirm nor deny we have an explanation.

Those with TikTok withdrawal can get their fix. For a price.

Often called one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the Panama Canal splits the continents of North and South America and launched a new era in global commerce when it opened in 1914.

The agency needs help deciphering the flowing penmanship of the past.

There’s a surprising connection between the capital of the Philippines and mailing important documents.

The MLK quote “a riot is the language of the unheard” came from his 1967 speech on the two Americas.

Richard Nixon opted to peace out of his successor’s swearing in ceremony.

While skipping the incoming president’s inauguration is a break from tradition, it isn’t unprecedented.

Artifacts at the ‘Titanic’ wreck may never see the light of day.

A blend of bureaucracy and saltwater is conspiring to keep any of the ship’s remaining secrets from being brought to the surface.

Swearing the presidential Oath of Office on a Bible is traditional, but not required.

The U.S. Constitution requires every president-elect to swear the Oath of Office—and that’s about it.

A mob outside the White House during Andrew Jackson's first inaugural reception, 1828.

The inauguration of a new U.S. President is a day of pomp and ceremony, of solemn oaths and dignified celebrations. But things don’t always go as planned.