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May 2024
- Blinken Visits Europe: Two Issues Dominated – Lesson
- Blinken Visits Europe: Two Issues Dominated – Quiz
- Can Ukraine Defeat Russia? – Lesson
- Can Ukraine Defeat Russia? – Quiz
- America’s Doomsday Plane Gets a Makeover – Lesson
- America’s Doomsday Plane Gets a Makeover – Quiz
- California Naturalizes About 155,000 New Citizens – Lesson
- California Naturalizes About 155,000 New Citizens – Quiz
- American Higher Education Struggles to Remain Competitive – Lesson
- American Higher Education Struggles to Remain Competitive – Quiz
- Police Forces Finally See a Post-Floyd Rebound – Lesson
- Police Forces Finally See a Post-Floyd Rebound – Quiz
- Esports – The Sport of Competitive Gaming – Lesson
- Esports – The Sport of Competitive Gaming – Quiz
- College Grads Leaving California for Greener – and Cheaper – Pastures – Lesson
- College Grads Leaving California for Greener – and Cheaper – Pastures – Quiz
- Mail Theft and Crimes Against Postal Workers Rising – Lesson
- Mail Theft and Crimes Against Postal Workers Rising – Quiz
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April 2024
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March 2024
- Biden Suspends Approvals for Natural Gas Exports – Lesson
- Biden Suspends Approvals for Natural Gas Exports – Quiz
- Super Tuesday: The Biggest Day in Primary Voting – Lesson
- Super Tuesday: The Biggest Day in Primary Voting – Quiz
- In Texas, Border Crisis Fuels Support for Independence – Lesson
- In Texas, Border Crisis Fuels Support for Independence – Quiz
- NATO Membership the Goal for Countries Fearing Putin’s Grasp – Lesson
- NATO Membership the Goal for Countries Fearing Putin’s Grasp – Quiz
- US Soldiers and the New War on Weight – Lesson
- US Soldiers and the New War on Weight – Quiz
- Trump Turmoil: Hits and Misses in the Legal Arena – Lesson
- Trump Turmoil: Hits and Misses in the Legal Arena – Quiz
- Cows on Trial in New York – Lesson
- Cows on Trial in New York – Quiz
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February 2024
- Republicans Rally Behind Texas Governor Greg Abbott at the Border – Lesson
- Republicans Rally Behind Texas Governor Greg Abbott at the Border – Quiz
- Texas Declares Border Invasion – Can They Do That? – Lesson
- Texas Declares Border Invasion – Can They Do That? – Quiz
- Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Was in Hospital – And No One Knew – Lesson
- Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Was in Hospital – And No One Knew – Quiz
- Leap Year – The Four-Year Phenomenon – Lesson
- Leap Year – The Four-Year Phenomenon – Quiz
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December 2023
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November 2023
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October 2023
- The Biden Impeachment Inquiry – Lesson
- The Biden Impeachment Inquiry – Quiz
- Israel vs Hamas: One Week in and Still at War – Lesson
- Israel vs Hamas: One Week in and Still at War – Quiz
- 2023 Nobel Prizes Announced – Lesson
- 2023 Nobel Prizes Announced – Quiz
- Trump Ordered Not to Mention Case Against Him – But Will It Last? – Lesson
- Trump Ordered Not to Mention Case Against Him – But Will It Last? – Quiz
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September 2023
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August 2023
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July 2023
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May 2023
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February 2023
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December 2022
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November 2021
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September 2022
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August 2022
- The US Visits Taiwan Again – What Impact Will It Make? – Lesson
- The US Visits Taiwan Again – What Impact Will It Make? – Quiz
- Cold Showers and Hot Days: Europe Limits People’s Energy Use – Lesson
- Cold Showers and Hot Days: Europe Limits People’s Energy Use – Quiz
- Hidden Art Is Being Discovered Around the World – Lesson
- Hidden Art Is Being Discovered Around the World – Quiz
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July 2022
- Last WWII Medal of Honor Recipient Will ‘Lie in State’ at US Capitol – Lesson
- Last WWII Medal of Honor Recipient Will ‘Lie in State’ at US Capitol – Quiz
- Canada and Denmark Make a Deal over Disputed Arctic Island – Lesson
- Canada and Denmark Make a Deal over Disputed Arctic Island – Quiz
- Texas Schools Spark Debate: What Should Kids Wear in Class? – Lesson
- Texas Schools Spark Debate: What Should Kids Wear in Class? – Quiz
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June 2022
- New York Court Says: An Elephant is Not a Human – Lesson
- New York Court Says: An Elephant is Not a Human – Quiz
- Finance Classes at School – A New Trend? – Lesson
- Finance Classes at School – A New Trend? – Quiz
- NASA Will Study UFOs for the First Time – Lesson
- NASA Will Study UFOs for the First Time – Quiz
- New York City Removes Last Payphone – Or Does It? – Lesson
- New York City Removes Last Payphone – Or Does It? – Quiz
- US Hosts ‘Summit of the Americas’ – Lesson
- US Hosts ‘Summit of the Americas’ – Quiz
- The National Spelling Bee – A Time-Honored Tradition – Lesson
- The National Spelling Bee – A Time-Honored Tradition – Quiz
- Queen Elizabeth Marks 70 Years on Throne with Platinum Jubilee – Lesson
- Queen Elizabeth Marks 70 Years on Throne with Platinum Jubilee – Quiz
- Lifeguard Shortage Could Limit Summer Swimming – Lesson
- Lifeguard Shortage Could Limit Summer Swimming – Quiz
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May 2022
- American Artist Warhol’s Painting Sells for Record Price – Lesson
- American Artist Warhol’s Painting Sells for Record Price – Quiz
- Western US Suffering From Harsh Drought – Lesson
- Western US Suffering From Harsh Drought – Quiz
- Time to Say Goodbye to Incandescent Lightbulbs? – Lesson
- Time to Say Goodbye to Incandescent Lightbulbs? – Quiz
- Tibetan Leader Visits Washington to Gain Support for His Culture – Lesson
- Tibetan Leader Visits Washington to Gain Support for His Culture – Quiz
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April 2022
- Masks on Public Transport – Needed or Not? – Lesson
- Masks on Public Transport – Needed or Not? – Quiz
- Shanghai Under Strict Lockdown in ‘Zero-COVID’ China – Lesson
- Shanghai Under Strict Lockdown in ‘Zero-COVID’ China – Quiz
- Are Roundabouts a Good or Bad Addition to US Cities? – Lesson
- Are Roundabouts a Good or Bad Addition to US Cities? – Quiz
- Is it Chicken Kiev or Kyiv? A Scrumptious Spelling Problem – Lesson
- Is it Chicken Kiev or Kyiv? A Scrumptious Spelling Problem – Quiz
- Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed as Next Judge to Join Supreme Court – Lesson
- Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed as Next Judge to Join Supreme Court – Quiz
- Gas Prices Rise Dramatically Across America – Lesson
- Gas Prices Rise Dramatically Across America – Quiz
- Washington, DC Celebrates 110 Years of Cherry Blossoms in the City – Lesson
- Washington, DC Celebrates 110 Years of Cherry Blossoms in the City – Quiz
- Billionaire Elon Musk Tries to Buy Twitter – Lesson
- Billionaire Elon Musk Tries to Buy Twitter – Quiz
- Meet Patron, Ukraine’s Mine-Sniffing ‘Hero’ Dog – Lesson
- Meet Patron, Ukraine’s Mine-Sniffing ‘Hero’ Dog – Quiz
- Top American Officials Visit Ukraine in Secret – Lesson
- Top American Officials Visit Ukraine in Secret – Quiz
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March 2022
- Supply Chain Crisis: Are Pop-Up Sites the Answer? – Lesson
- Supply Chain Crisis: Are Pop-Up Sites the Answer? – Quiz
- Fare Evaders Beware: New York Mayor to Tackle Subway Crime? – Lesson
- Fare Evaders Beware: New York Mayor to Tackle Subway Crime? – Quiz
- Time’s Up For Switching Clocks? Congress Considers Daylight Saving – Lesson
- Time’s Up For Switching Clocks? Congress Considers Daylight Saving – Quiz
- Ukraine’s President Addresses Congress as War Persists – Lesson
- Ukraine’s President Addresses Congress as War Persists – Quiz
- No More Meat? New York Mayor Decrees Vegan Fridays for Schools – Lesson
- No More Meat? New York Mayor Decrees Vegan Fridays for Schools – Quiz
- Big Business Shuns Russia Over Ukraine Invasion – Lesson
- Big Business Shuns Russia Over Ukraine Invasion – Quiz
- ‘People’s Convoy’ Loops Around US Capital in COVID Protest – Lesson
- ‘People’s Convoy’ Loops Around US Capital in COVID Protest – Quiz
- From Train Robberies to Stores – US Sees a Rise in Crime – Lesson
- From Train Robberies to Stores – US Sees a Rise in Crime – Quiz
- President Biden Gives His First State of the Union Speech – Lesson
- President Biden Gives His First State of the Union Speech – Quiz
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February 2022
- Ukraine War Continues as Peace Talks Begin – Lesson
- Ukraine War Continues as Peace Talks Begin – Quiz
- US States Say Farewell to COVID Rules – Lesson
- US States Say Farewell to COVID Rules – Quiz
- Russia Launches Invasion of Ukraine – Lesson
- Russia Launches Invasion of Ukraine – Quiz
- Feuds Erupt as States Redraw Voting Maps – Lesson
- Feuds Erupt as States Redraw Voting Maps – Quiz
- Monobob Makes Olympic Debut – Lesson
- Monobob Makes Olympic Debut – Quiz
- Canadian Truckers Stage Major Protest Against COVID Laws – Lesson
- Canadian Truckers Stage Major Protest Against COVID Laws – Quiz
- U.S. Sends Troops to Europe as Ukraine-Russia Tensions Rise – Lesson
- U.S. Sends Troops to Europe as Ukraine-Russia Tensions Rise – Quiz
- Winter Olympics Begin in Beijing Amid Calls for Boycott – Lesson
- Winter Olympics Begin in Beijing Amid Calls for Boycott – Quiz
- Afghanistan Faces a ‘Tsunami of Hunger’ Under the Taliban – Lesson
- Afghanistan Faces a ‘Tsunami of Hunger’ Under the Taliban – Quiz
- Dealing With Omicron: COVID Rules Around the World – Lesson
- Dealing With Omicron: COVID Rules Around the World – Quiz
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January 2022
- Teen Pilot Becomes Youngest Girl to Fly Solo Around the World – Lesson
- Teen Pilot Becomes Youngest Girl to Fly Solo Around the World – Quiz
- No More Meat and Potatoes? Supply Down and Prices Up – Lesson
- No More Meat and Potatoes? Supply Down and Prices Up – Quiz
- Flight Confusion as 5G Causes Safety Worries – Lesson
- Flight Confusion as 5G Causes Safety Worries – Quiz
- English Translations on French ID Cards? Some say ‘Non!’ – Lesson
- English Translations on French ID Cards? Some say ‘Non!’ – Quiz
- Omicron: Did COVID Catch the Common Cold? – Lesson
- Omicron: Did COVID Catch the Common Cold? – Quiz
- Five Countries Agree: Nuclear War Must Be Avoided – Lesson
- Five Countries Agree: Nuclear War Must Be Avoided – Quiz
- Enes Kanter’s American Dream Come True – Lesson
- Enes Kanter’s American Dream Come True – Quiz
- U.S. Bans Products Linked to Uighur Slavery – Lesson
- U.S. Bans Products Linked to Uighur Slavery – Quiz
- Time Capsules Found in Base of Robert E. Lee Statue – Lesson
- Time Capsules Found in Base of Robert E. Lee Statue – Quiz
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December 2021
- Russia and US Lock Horns Over Ukraine Border – Lesson
- Russia and US Lock Horns Over Ukraine Border – Quiz
- US Military Starts New UFO Research Group – Lesson
- US Military Starts New UFO Research Group – Quiz
- Omicron COVID Strain Comes Out of South Africa – Lesson
- Omicron COVID Strain Comes Out of South Africa – Quiz
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November 2021
- La Niña Weather Patterns May Affect the US This Winter – Lesson
- La Niña Weather Patterns May Affect the US This Winter – Quiz
- Dads on Duty Help Out at Louisiana High School – Lesson
- Dads on Duty Help Out at Louisiana High School – Quiz
- The Price of Thanksgiving Goes Up in 2021 – Lesson
- The Price of Thanksgiving Goes Up in 2021 – Quiz
- Airlines Struggle with Flights Ahead of the Holidays – Lesson
- Airlines Struggle with Flights Ahead of the Holidays – Quiz
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October 2021
- Crisis and Kidnappings in Haiti – Lesson
- Crisis and Kidnappings in Haiti – Quiz
- US Feels Effects of Computer Chip Shortage – Lesson
- US Feels Effects of Computer Chip Shortage – Quiz
- California Oil Spill Investigations – Lesson
- California Oil Spill Investigations – Quiz
- Michigan Governor Vows to Fix Lead-Infected Water Supply – Lesson
- Michigan Governor Vows to Fix Lead-Infected Water Supply – Quiz
- Nobel Prize Winners Announced – Lesson
- Nobel Prize Winners Announced – Quiz
- COVID and School – Rules Vary Across the Nation – Lesson
- COVID and School – Rules Vary Across the Nation – Quiz
- Toilet Paper Shortage 2.0? – Lesson
- Toilet Paper Shortage 2.0? – Quiz
- A Very Merry COVID Homecoming? – Lesson
- A Very Merry COVID Homecoming? – Quiz
- Merck COVID Pill – A New Way to Treat the Virus? – Lesson
- Merck COVID Pill – A New Way to Treat the Virus? – Quiz
- Eruptions at La Palma and Kilauea Volcanoes – Lesson
- Eruptions at La Palma and Kilauea Volcanoes – Quiz
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September 2021
- US Joins UK and Australia in ‘AUKUS’ Defense Deal – Lesson
- US Joins UK and Australia in ‘AUKUS’ Defense Deal – Quiz
- Rules Change for Travelers to the US – Lesson
- Rules Change for Travelers to the US – Quiz
- Is There a Crisis at the Southern Border? – Lesson
- Is There a Crisis at the Southern Border? – Quiz
- What’s Going On With COVID-19? – Lesson
- What’s Going On With COVID-19? – Quiz
- Biden Announces 6-Step COVID Plan – Lesson
- Biden Announces 6-Step COVID Plan – Quiz
- Private Rescue Missions in Afghanistan – Lesson
- Private Rescue Missions in Afghanistan – Quiz
- China’s Crackdown on Video Games – Lesson
- China’s Crackdown on Video Games – Quiz
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August 2021
- US Military Has Left Afghanistan – But What About Those Left Behind? – Lesson
- US Military Has Left Afghanistan – But What About Those Left Behind? – Quiz
- Hurricane Ida Tests New Orleans – Lesson
- Hurricane Ida Tests New Orleans – Quiz
- Records Set for Paralympic Games – Lesson
- Records Set for Paralympic Games – Quiz
- Storms in Tennessee and Northeast Cause Floods – Lesson
- Storms in Tennessee and Northeast Cause Floods – Quiz
‘People’s Convoy’ Loops Around US Capital in COVID Protest – Lesson
Trucks and other vehicles traveled across the country to deliver a message on COVID-19.
Trucks and other vehicles have gathered near Washington, DC, to protest COVID restrictions. Several convoys traveled across the nation, eventually meeting and arriving at the capital. The procession did two laps around the Capital Beltway, a road that encircles the city, on Sunday. Then they repeated the event on Monday.
The demonstration was inspired by the recent trucker protests in Canada, which opposed new COVID-19 rules.
What is the People’s Convoy?
The demonstration is made up of several groups. One of them is the “People’s Convoy,” which started its 11-day journey on the other side of the country, in California. Another group, the “American Freedom Convoy,” began in the Midwest.
The People’s Convoy urged the US to lift all COVID restrictions. It called on elected officials to “restore accountability and liberty by lifting all mandates and ending the state of emergency — as COVID is well-in-hand now, and Americans need to get back to work in a free and unrestricted manner.”
The People’s Convoy collected donations as it traveled across the country. Supporters reportedly gave nearly $1 million, as well as 30,000 pounds of food and supplies.
“This is probably the best thing to happen in the United States in two years,” said Melissa Ramhoff from Frostburg, Maryland. “We need our freedoms back. We’re done,” she said about the COVID pandemic.
“It’s just been a great atmosphere,” said Ruth Anne Bowles from Blue Knob, Pennsylvania. “It’s been very encouraging to see other people who love our country and want our freedom to remain.”
“I think everybody’s here for different reasons, but it all boils down to the same thing: Freedom and liberty,” said Shane Class, who traveled from Idaho to join the rally. “It’s time for our government to start understanding that people want that freedom in the Constitution back.”
Many of the trucks and cars displayed signs, as well as the US flag and Canadian flag.
Canadian Influence
The groups were inspired to act by Canada’s recent trucker protest. The Canadian “Freedom Convoy” was a gathering of truckers that joined to protest COVID restrictions imposed in their country. The truckers blockaded the capital city of Ottawa and the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Canada and the US.
After three weeks, Canada’s Freedom Convoy was removed by police. In February, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian parliament agreed to use the Emergencies Act for the first time. This allowed the government more powers to stamp down on protests. According to Ottawa police, 191 people were arrested, and 79 vehicles were towed.
Unlike the Canadian protest, the US organizers said they only planned to drive around the capital city, not enter it or block traffic.
Local Law Enforcement
According to local officials, four convoy groups met up in the Maryland city of Hagerstown. The gathering included around 1,000 vehicles. Sheriff Doug Mullendore commented, “They have been very respectful and have caused no problems here.”
Police said they were keeping an eye on the situation. The District of Columbia Emergency Management Agency warned people that traffic jams and other road disruptions could happen in the area. “We do respect everyone, any American’s right to come to the nation’s capital and exercise their First Amendment rights,” said the agency’s director, Christopher Rodriguez. “But what we won’t tolerate are any individuals who come into the nation’s capital and break our laws.”
Around 700 members of the National Guard were recently called to Washington, DC, to guard President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech. Their stay was extended when news of the convoy was heard.
Support and Opposition
Some members of Congress have agreed to talk with members of the convoy. Republican Senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Ted Cruz of Texas say they are planning to meet with the truckers.
However, not everyone supports the convoy. Critics have pointed out that many states are now ending their COVID restrictions, anyway.
Right now, it’s not clear what the truckers’ plans are. Will they stay in the Washington area, or will their demonstration come to an end?