Labor Day: Paintings From the Great Depression, and the WPA
Paintings, drawings, and prints from a dynamic time when President Roosevelt saved America by putting people — including artists — back to work.
An Evening in the Old South
I’m having an attack of nostalgia. I feel a deep pang of loss as I think about the Confederate statues that line Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. Are their days numbered? They stand only a few blocks from where my maternal grandparents lived in the 1950s, and where I spent many summers. I loved staring Read More
What Really Happened in Durham, NC? A Nasty Thought
On August 14, in Durham NC, something strange happened that does not make sense to me. A protester climbed up on the statue of a Confederate soldier, tied a rope around his neck, gave a signal, and her fellow activists pulled until the statue came crashing down. Then several others converged on the statue, viciously, Read More
What’s Missing from the Trump Jr. Emails — and What it Reveals
The recently released emails between Donald Trump Jr. and Trump family friend Rob Goldstone are intriguing to some of us — because of what is not in them. Last Monday’s New York Times headline announced “Trump Jr. Was Told in Email of Russian Effort to Aid Campaign.” The first paragraph of the story said: Read More
JFK Assassination: Low Quality of Disinformation
The quality of disinformation on the Kennedy assassination has never been very high. Much of it is pseudoscience, slick enough to fool the general public, but nothing that ever holds up under scrutiny.Earlier this week, I saw what I think is a specimen of it in an obituary in the Dallas Morning News of a Read More
Funny, Wise Quotations on Taxes
Are you in pain from the IRS? Well, you’re in good company. Check out what these characters have to say about paying taxes — Al Capone, Albert Einstein, Dave Barry, Mark Twain, Mae West, and many others.
Muslim Response to Antisemitism Much Stronger Than Trump’s
When Jewish cemeteries were desecrated recently, it was Muslims — not President Donald Trump — who first deplored these acts. They also raised tens of thousands of dollars to repair them. And we have more surprises for you.
Classic Who: Martin Luther King Also Had a Nightmare
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, WhoWhatWhy presents — through a fascinating collection of pictures — a brief history of American racism, a look at the kind of hatred, atrocities, and soul-searing humiliation that spurred King into action.
Muslims and Gays Unite Against Hate
All across America, Muslims have not only condemned what Omar Mateen did — they have openly expressed support for the gay community.
Classic Who: Is This About You?
Insightful, funny, and surprising quotations on the subject of skepticism, by some of the wittiest people who ever lived. We ran this collection before — and we will probably run it again. We don’t think you can ever get enough of this kind of thing. (Ran originally on February 13, 2014.)
Classic Who: Memorial Day in Images
For Memorial Day, we present paintings and other works of art from the last two centuries that express the horrors of war. (First published May 26, 2014)