A two-part French biopic about Charles de Gaulle, La Bataille de Gaulle, has drawn 5 million viewers in French cinemas, becoming a surprise summer hit and striking a chord with young audiences.
Ex-presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton contributed to the 'In Pursuit' project, writing essays on past presidents that subtly reflect concerns over power and democracy in the Trump era, without directly mentioning him.
In 1938, Orson Welles's radio adaptation of "The War of the Worlds" presented a fictional alien invasion as urgent news bulletins, causing confusion among some US listeners who missed the opening disclaimer. The incident became a seminal case study in misinformation, highlighting how public trust in new media can blur the line between entertainment and reality, influencing broadcasting standards and remaining relevant in discussions about disinformation today.
A new book, 'Gullah-Geechee Diasporas,' challenges the static view of Gullah Geechee culture, revealing its widespread influence across the US South and beyond. Editors Muhammad Fraser-Rahim and Elizabeth J West discuss how essays explore the community's dynamic history, language, music, and religion, emphasizing its significant contributions and ongoing evolution.
Polly Cooper, an Oneida woman, walked 200 miles through snow to Valley Forge in 1778, providing and preparing corn to save George Washington's starving Continental Army. Her story, preserved through oral tradition, is now recognized on the 2026 Sacagawea $1 coin.
Historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Ken Burns discussed the importance of history in understanding current societal divisions and anxieties, drawing parallels to past crises like the Civil War and Great Depression. They emphasized history as a teacher and guide for navigating the present and imagining a shared future.
Donald Trump has reportedly earned at least $2.2bn in his first year back in office, a figure unprecedented in US presidential history. Historians note this financial gain, particularly from cryptocurrency ventures, blurs lines between public policy and private dealings, contrasting sharply with norms set by previous presidents.
As America nears its 250th anniversary, Thomas Jefferson's contradictory legacy as a slaveholder and author of "all men are created equal" remains a central debate. Historians and sites like Monticello and the University of Virginia grapple with his complex influence on American identity, highlighting his malleability to different political ideologies throughout history.
Historians may find Keir Starmer's downfall perplexing: a PM who won a landslide in 2024 but was ousted less than two years later without major scandals. His lack of communication skills, absence of a clear plan, and failure to read the national mood contributed to his demise, offering a cautionary tale for his successors.
Ghana is hosting a three-day conference in Accra, "Next Steps," bringing together over 80 countries to advance reparatory justice following a UN resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans a grave crime against humanity. The event aims to transform political momentum into concrete institutional commitments.
Historians are calling out inaccuracies and false claims on President Trump's "Walk of Fame" plaques at the White House, citing distortions about his own achievements and those of past presidents like Reagan and Washington. The plaques allegedly promote partisan narratives and misinformation.
AI is assisting historians in deciphering encrypted historical documents, such as the 400-year-old "Borgia Codex," unlocking hidden information about past diseases, conspiracies, and daily life. Researchers are developing advanced AI tools to automate transcription and decryption, potentially revealing lost historical narratives.
An image of George Washington praying at Valley Forge, based on a 1975 oil painting by Arnold Friberg, has been widely used by the Trump administration and conservative groups, despite historians questioning its historical accuracy, highlighting its symbolic power in associating religion, nation, and military.
Ukrainian and Polish historians convened for the first time in eight years to address their nations' fraught shared history. The congress, held in Baranów Sandomierski, Poland, focused on resolving historical disputes, particularly the Volhynia massacre, to improve current bilateral relations.
The Trump administration asserts a nearly 50-year-old law requiring the preservation of presidential records is unconstitutional. Historians warn important papers could be destroyed.
