American Esoterica

The real story that likely inspired a fake story, and it's way more heartbreaking. This one is a three-hankie episode.

We actually had genuine royalty in this country once, and no, I don't mean Beyoncé (or Queen Bey, as those of us who are true fans call her). And in New Jersey, of all places.

Remember that time that somebody almost assassinated JFK? Probably not.

A baker's dozen colonies? A regular dozen? Fourteen? Fifteen? Twenty-six? HOW MANY COLONIES WERE THERE?

Here's another round of lightning-fast-ish presidential trivia, from the devil to the Beast and everything in-between.

The tip of Lake Michigan is just the tip of the iceberg that spins out into a war between the states. Two states, that is.

THIS ONE'S GOT IT ALL, FOLKS - hucksters, country music, goat testicles, pirate radio, patent medicines, wire fraud, William Jennings Bryan...you name it! This is the bizarre story of how rural America fell in love with country music.

Meet Herman Hollerith - the founder of your digital world and archnemesis to The Count on Sesame Street. 

We all know that THE story about George Washington isn't true, but what if what we've been wrong about all this time is that the story is KINDA true-ish? 

Sometimes American cultural greatness runs in very concentrated pockets. 

"Fool me once, shame on...shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again..." - George W. Bush.

There's one order that holds the record for maybe the most antisemitic government act in American history, and it both complicates and haunts the legacy of someone otherwise perceived as a hero.

Attacking the Union from the south just wasn't cutting it. So why not attack from the north instead? GENIUS.

Lincoln loved the theater, although he might have a different opinion in retrospect. Yes, we're doing another Lincoln one. Yes, it includes some startling coincidences.

This one is about Beyoncé’s stepfather’s ex-wife’s uncle. (It's also the incredible story of a family that lifted each other to unheard-of heights.)

A love story for the ages.

She broke the invisible barriers in early American aviation with little more than a wing and a prayer. 

The Napkin of Consequence emerges to define 50 years of American policy. 

These are the losers of the losers - the ones who tried to do something stupid and failed in the attempt. Look at them - look at them and laugh. Also, it's a very serious subject, and your laughter is highly inappropriate. Grow up.