Stephen West

Parks gift shops directed to report items that ‘disparage Americans’ The National Park Service’s directive is part of a wider Trump administration effort to reshape how American history is told at federal institutions.

Those are public comments about the paved-over Rose Garden, submitted after the Department of the Interior solicited public input to identify sites with "negative" content about Americans or America's natural beauty.

Are you, though?

Screenshots from Josephine Bowen's first entry in 1920 Boston Register of Woman voters, showing her name crossed out and "no papers." Top image says "Register of Women Voters."

Why was this woman’s voter registration crossed out? When Josephine Bowen tried to register to vote in Boston on September 8, 1920, her attempt was rejected because of the clerk’s note: “no papers.” At that time in the United States, a woman’s citizenship status was tenuous. @universalhub.com

"The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators." Article 1, section 4

The Smithsonian announces: "The Donald J. Trump Wing of Impeachments Yet to Come"

I got about 5 minutes into the interview and had to turn it off.

The only thing that kept me listening that long was wondering if he could get Klein to drop his "we are serious people with serious ideas, talking seriously" schtick.

But alas, no.

Smithsonian says Trump label removed from impeachment exhibit due to 'appearance' The Smithsonian clarified on Aug. 2 that aesthetic reasons were behind the removal of a placard with references to Trump in an impeachment display.

The National Museum of American History recently removed a sign referring to Trump's 2 impeachments.

It had been in place for 4 years but was removed for its "appearance," Smithsonian officials say.

They promise new signage in "coming weeks to reflect all impeachment proceedings" in US history.

It’s okra.

The part where they have to explain the Anti-Masonic Party will be AWESOME

The curators and other staff are wonderful.

We will see how many weeks "in the coming weeks" turns out to be.

Headline AI is coming for the consultants. Inside Mackinsey, this is existential If AI can analyze information, crunch data and deliver a slick PowerPoint within seconds, how does the biggest name in consulting stay relevant?

Honestly, this one I'm okay with

The Trump administration has directed or pressured various other federal agencies to conduct this kind of self-review, including libraries on military bases and at the service academies, and National Park Service sites - and even their bookstores.

Tweet from the Smithsonian, dated Aug 2, 2025 As the keeper of memory for the nation, it is our privilege and responsibility to tell accurate and complete histories. As has been recently reported, in July, a placard was removed from @amhistorymuseum ’s exhibit “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden.”  The intent of the “Impeachment” section of the exhibit is to reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nation’s history. The placard, which was meant to be a temporary addition to a 25-year-old exhibition, did not meet the museum’s standards in appearance, location, timeline, and overall presentation. It was not consistent with other sections in the exhibit and moreover blocked the view of the objects inside its case. For these reasons, we removed the placard. We were not asked by any Administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit. The section in question, “Impeachment,” will be updated in the coming weeks to reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nation’s history.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in July removed references to President Donald Trump’s two impeachments from an exhibit display. A person familiar with the exhibit plans, who was not authorized to discuss them publicly, said the change came about as part of a content review that the Smithsonian agreed to undertake following pressure from the White House to remove an art museum director.

On twitter (left), the Smithsonian says it was not asked to remove the sign by the Trump administration.

Note that the Washington Post, in breaking news of the sign's removal (right), didn't say it was motivated by a direct request, but by an internal review the Smithsonian adopted under pressure.

here, btw, is the sign in question

Smithsonian says Trump label removed from impeachment exhibit due to 'appearance' The Smithsonian clarified on Aug. 2 that aesthetic reasons were behind the removal of a placard with references to Trump in an impeachment display.

The National Museum of American History recently removed a sign referring to Trump's 2 impeachments.

It had been in place for 4 years but was removed for its "appearance," Smithsonian officials say.

They promise new signage in "coming weeks to reflect all impeachment proceedings" in US history.

The Danville Riot and Virginia's Experiment in Biracial Democracy Earlier this week, the city of Danville, Virginia dedicated a historical marker about a race riot that took place on November 3, 1883. Given the pervasiveness of racial violence throughout this period...

The Danville Riot and Virginia's Experiment in Biracial Democracy 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

A Fish Falls From the Sky and Sparks a Brush Fire in British Columbia

For a medieval monastic chronicler, a headline to die for

Headline AI is coming for the consultants. Inside Mackinsey, this is existential If AI can analyze information, crunch data and deliver a slick PowerPoint within seconds, how does the biggest name in consulting stay relevant?

Honestly, this one I'm okay with

Leonhardt: I find that totally persuasive. But I also want to offer what I think is the best counterargument, which is that we do, in fact, have teams named for entire groups of people. We have the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, which is a beloved team name.

McWhorter: Well, to tell you the truth, I would assume that a lot of those are going to be on the chopping block soon. For example, the Fighting Irish. I can imagine people deciding that that is playing into a notion of the Irish as exotic. I wouldn’t be surprised, and I wouldn’t argue against it.

This just feels like willful ignorance.

After agreeing that "Redskins" is an unacceptable name for the Washington football team, David Leonhardt wonders, "Hey, what about the Fighting Irish?"

John McWhorter is equally mystified.

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/o...

I thought you might like to know what Norwegians call a speed hump

Screenshot of a Wall Street journal story entitled "the conservative women who are having it all" The deck, reads "politicians and other prominent women on the right are juggling work and family on their own terms. They credit grit, religious Faith, family support, and a laser-like focus on priorities."

<whispers> and, you know, wealth

Maryland Bookstore Donates Proceeds From GOP Senator’s Book Sales to Immigrant Charity People's Book says it encourages Dave McCormick to "buy additional books from us so we can give more of his massive piles of wealth to other worthy causes."

One of my favorite bookstores in the DC area, People's Book, revealed the Republican lobbyists who bought bulk orders of GOP Sen. McCormick's dumb new book from the store to goose sales numbers. Then it gave all the profits from the sale to an immigrant charity. www.washingtonian.com/2025/08/01/d...

Oldest known baseball card: The Brooklyn Atlantics, 1865. www.loc.gov/exhibitions/...

HISTORIC DAYS IN AUGUST 1. Slavery terminated in British Colonies , 1834 . 2. Lecompton ( Kansas ) Constitution rejected , 1858 . 4. Robert Purvis , abolitionist , born , 1810 . 7. Benjamin Lundy held his first abolition meeting in Boston , 1828 . 9. P. B. S. Pinchback nominated for governor of Louisiana , 1872 . 10. Frederick Douglass addressed anti-slavery convention at Nantucket, 1841 . 11 .. Robert G. Ingersoll born , 1833 12. Convention met in Mississippi to revise constitution , 1890 . 13. Anti-abolition riots began in Philadelphia , lasting three nights , 1834 14. Battle of Deep Bottom , 1864. 16. Peter Salem died , 1816 . 17. First attempt to unite the A. M. E. and A. M. E. Zion Churches , 1820 . 20. ( ? ) Twenty African Negroes landed as slaves at Jamestown , 1619. 21. Nat Turner Insurrection in Virginia , 1831 . 22. Benjamin Lundy died , 1839 . 23. African Methodist Episcopal Church incorporated , 1796 . 24. Independence of Liberia proclaimed , 1847 . 25. Plantation slaves revolted in Hayti , 1791 . 28. Act for abolition of slavery in British Colonies passed parliament , 1833 . 29. Sonthonax decreed liberty of slaves in San Domingo , 1793 . 30. James G. Birney nominated for President , 1843 . 31. General Fremont's emancipation proclamation , 1861 . L. M. HERSHAW.

Historic Days in August

From the Crisis, 1912

hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b32...

Historian friends: tell me about your favorite research & writing tools.

As a bonus, would love to know where you learned how to use them & if you'd be interested in sharing your knowledge w/ others.

unindicted co-conspirator

This metaphor is a little bit too apt. He's making ugly, unnecessary, permanent alterations to our country.

screenshot from the wire, season 4, episode 8. Outdoor scene - on a street. On the right is a man on a bike. On the left is a pickup truck with a camper top. On the back glass is a bumper sticker that reads "Choose Justice / Stop John Roberts"

just perfection - down to a detail like the bumper sticker on the back glass

wire, season 4, episode 8

President Trump, and other patriot donors, have generously committed to donating the funds necessary to build this approximately $200 million dollar structure

So ... Columbia is paying for it?

Smithsonian removes Trump from impeachment exhibit in American History Museum A temporary placard, on display since 2021, described the president's historic impeachments. Officials said the exhibit was restored to an earlier version following a review of legacy content.

A new myth: Trump wasn't impeached.

"The National Museum of American History in July removed references to President Donald Trump’s two impeachments."

"The change came about as part of a content review...following pressure from the White House to remove an art museum director."