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Today in History: October 8

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state after it was revealed that two militia groups had a plot to kidnap the governor
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state after it was revealed that two militia groups had a plot to kidnap the governor

On this day in recent history, there are two reminders why Donald Trump should never be president of the United States. In 2016, just weeks before Election Day, Hollywood Access Tapes were released to the public, who would hear Donald Trump bragging about his sexual exploits and encouraging sexual assault. Some Republican leaders supposedly made an effort to get Trump to drop out of the race, but with only weeks before election day, there was no likelihood of that. This incident would foreshadow the utter depravity that Donald Trump brought to the White House when he became president.

In 2020, again just weeks before Election Day, encouraged by President Trump’s lies and rhetoric, two militia groups plotted to kidnap, and possibly kill Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Four years later, Donald Trump’s threats against political opponents have gotten worse, highlighting why neither Trump nor any of his supporters should be given a platform from which to speak and/or act.

On October 8, 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer addressed the public after law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, uncovered a plot to kidnap her. Thirteen members of two militia groups were charged, as the conspirators had been preparing for violence. This chilling incident was linked to extremist rhetoric, fueled by political polarization in the U.S. at the time, particularly around the presidency of Donald Trump. The failed plot underscored the growing threat of domestic terrorism and the dangers of radicalization in the modern political climate.

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The Chicago Court house and downtown area in the aftermath of the Chicago fire (AP Photo)
The Chicago Court house and downtown area in the aftermath of the Chicago fire (AP Photo)

In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire began, ravaging the city for three days. Over 300 people lost their lives, and more than 17,000 buildings were destroyed, leaving much of the city in ruins. While the exact cause remains uncertain, the fire reshaped Chicago’s urban landscape and led to the establishment of new fire codes and the rapid rebuilding of the city, which became a pioneer in modern architecture.

Yogi Berra leaps into the arms of pitcher Don Larsen after Larsen pitched a perfect game in the World Series
Yogi Berra leaps into the arms of pitcher Don Larsen after Larsen pitched a perfect game in the World Series

In 1956, Don Larsen of the New York Yankees made baseball history by pitching the only perfect game in a World Series. His flawless performance led the Yankees to a 2-0 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5. This achievement is still regarded as one of the greatest moments in baseball, and Larsen’s feat remains unmatched in World Series history to this day.

In 1997, scientists working with the Mars Pathfinder mission reported potential evidence that Mars may once have been capable of supporting life. The data collected suggested that the planet had once been home to water, a critical factor for the possibility of life. This discovery fueled ongoing research and exploration into the Red Planet’s history, laying the groundwork for future missions aimed at uncovering Mars’ past.

In 2002, a federal judge granted President George W. Bush’s request to reopen West Coast ports after a 10-day labor lockout that had brought shipping to a halt. The closure was costing the U.S. economy up to $2 billion per day, affecting global supply chains. The judge’s decision to intervene underscored the importance of the shipping industry to the American economy, especially as the country faced increasing globalization.

In 2005, a catastrophic 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the border region between Pakistan and India, killing an estimated 86,000 people. The disaster caused widespread devastation, particularly in Pakistan’s Kashmir region, and prompted a massive international relief effort. The earthquake highlighted the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity and emphasized the need for better disaster preparedness.

In 2016, Donald Trump defied calls from many Republican leaders to step down from the presidential race after a 2005 video surfaced in which he made lewd comments about women. Despite the controversy, Trump remained in the race and ultimately won the presidency. This moment highlighted the growing rift within the Republican Party and the resilience of Trump’s political base amid numerous scandals.

In 2022, an explosion damaged a key bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula with Russia, causing a partial collapse. The bridge, which served as a crucial supply route for Russian forces during the war in Ukraine, became a symbol of both strategic importance and vulnerability for the Kremlin’s military operations. The attack intensified the conflict, as the bridge was seen as a vital link for transporting supplies to Russian-occupied territories.


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Today in History: November 14

Today in History: November 14. On November 14, 1889, journalist Nellie Bly began an attempt to travel around the world in 80 days; she would successfully complete the journey in just over 72 days. In 1851, Herman Melville’s novel ‘Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale’ was published in the United States, almost a month after being released in Britain. In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first Black child to desegregate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. In 1965, the U.S. Army’s first major military operation of the Vietnam War began with the start of the five-day Battle of Ia Drang.In 1993, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula became the NFL’s all-time winningest coach with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Afghan opposition fighters rolled into Kabul on Tuesday after Taliban troops slipped away under cover of darkness, leaving without a fight (AP Photo-Marco Di Lauro)

Today in History: November 13

Today in History: November 13:On Nov. 13, 2015, Islamic State militants carried out a set of coordinated attacks in Paris at the national stadium, in a crowded concert hall, in restaurants and on streets, killing 130 people in the worst attack on French soil since World War II. In 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling which found Alabama bus segregation laws were illegal. In 1971, the U.S. space probe Mariner 9 went into orbit around Mars, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, DC. In 1985, some 23,000 residents of Armero, Colombia, died when a volcanic mudslide buried the city. In 2001, U.S.-backed Northern Alliance fighters in Afghanistan entered Kabul as Taliban forces retreated from the capital city.

Arne Petterson, the last alien to leave Ellis Island before its closing, waves from the ferry boat Ellis Island (AP Photo)

Today in History: November 12

Today in History: On November 12: 1954, Ellis Island officially closed as an immigration station and detention center. More than 12 million immigrants arrived in the United States via Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. In 1927, Josef Stalin became the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union as Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party. In 1936, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in Washington, D.C., and gave the green light to traffic. In 1948, former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal. In 1970, the Bhola cyclone struck East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The deadliest tropical cyclone on record claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000-500,000 people.

American troops cheer after hearing the news that the Armistice had been signed, ending World War I (AP Photo)

Today in History: November 11

Today in History: November 11: On Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in World War I ended as the Allies and Germany signed an armistice aboard a railroad car in the Forest of Compiègne in northern France. In 1620, 41 Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed the Mayflower Compact, calling for a “civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation.” In 1921, the remains of an unidentified American service member were interred in a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony presided over by President Warren G. Harding. In 1966, Gemini 12 blasted off on a four-day mission with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. aboard; it was the tenth and final crewed flight of NASA’s Gemini program.

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