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Almanac for Oct. 22, 2026

Today is Thursday, Oct. 22, the 295th day of 2026. There are 70 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 22, 2012, cyclist Lance Armstrong was formally stripped of his seven Tour de France victories and received a lifetime ban from Olympic sports after the International Cycling Union chose not to appeal doping charges against Armstrong by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Also on this date: In 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin of France made the first successful parachute drop, descending about 3,000 feet to the ground from a balloon over Paris. He was hailed as the first ...

The Anti-French revolt in France

"All my life," Charles de Gaulle famously said, "I have had a certain idea of France." This, though, was presumably not what he had in mind. France has been wracked by riots targeting public buildings and symbols of the nation, as well as ordinary commercial concerns. Of course, France ...

The illogical 2026 elections

If politics was logical, Republicans should be leading in the polls and looking forward to maintaining, even expanding, their congressional majorities. Putting aside President Trump’s annoying personality, his vulgar language and his narcissistic behavior – as difficult as that might ...

Almana for Oct. 20, 2026

Today is Wednesday, Oct. 21, the 294th day of 2026. There are 71 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 21, 2014, Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide for shooting and killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The conviction was later upgraded to murder; Pistorius was released on parole in January 2024. Also on this date: In 1797, the U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides," was christened in Boston Harbor. In 1805, a British fleet commanded by Vice Adm. Horatio Nelson defeated a French-Spanish fleet in the Battle ...

Trump’s final humiliation of Lindsey Graham

Dear Lindsey, Your body had not long been in the grave when your pal Donald Trump made the anti-Russia legislation that carried your name a nullity. Wondering how you'd feel about this if you were around to see it. The whole point of your last decade of life was the belief (or was it a ...

Almanac for Oct. 20, 2026

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 20, the 293rd day of 2026. There are 72 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 20, 1944, Gen. Douglas MacArthur waded ashore in his return to the Philippines against Japanese forces in World War II, fulfilling a promise he made ("I shall return") after being ordered to evacuate the country in 1942 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Also on this date: In 1803, the U.S. Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase. In 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee opened hearings into alleged communist influence in the U.S. motion picture ...