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2 days

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There Are Some Strange Things at Our Presidential Libraries

Jessica DePalma

A retractable toothpick and chicken mascot head are among just some of the interesting items at the nation's presidential libraries.

Long Story Short

5 days

Andreas Rentz / Getty Images file

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Drone Debate: Here's What You Need to Know

The FAA recently announced a new program to research the future of domestic drone usage. Military drones have been around for a while, but private drone ownership is a brave new world.

Long Story Short

19 days

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How This Supreme Court Gay Marriage Case Differs From the Last One

Didn't the Supreme Court already rule on gay marriage? Pete Williams explains.

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23 days

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Happy 25th Birthday Hubble!

Jessica DePalma

On April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched aboard the space shuttle Discovery, beginning a new chapter in space exploration.

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24 days

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How ISIS Uses Social Media and Violence to Recruit

ISIS has been particularly successful in recruiting foreigners to fight for its cause.

News

30 days

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Everything You Need to Know About the Gyrocopter

Jake Heller

This week wasn't the first time a gyrocopter (a.k.a. an autogiro) made a stopover in Washington, D.C.

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32 days

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War and Taxes: A Short History of the IRS

Jake Heller

What do the Civil War and World War II have to do with your tax return? We explain in this quick history of the Internal Revenue Service.

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New Way to Stream Music but Song Remains the Same

Tidal, the new music streaming service backed by Jay-Z and other stars, is the latest attempt by the music industry to maintain control over the internet.

Long Story Short

45 days

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An Evolution: How Religious Protection Laws Changed

Matt Rivera

When Bill Clinton signed the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act in 1993, it was supported by a wide margin. Since then, the laws have changed into something unexpected.

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58 days

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Stephen Colbert's Super PAC Lessons

Matt Rivera

In 2011, Stephen Colbert launched a Super PAC to lampoon the new political entity. In the process, he illustrated some of the strangest facts about this newest player in politics.

Long Story Short

58 days

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Nuclear Family: What a Deal With Iran Could Mean for the U.S.

Matt Rivera

A deal to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon might be good for short term peace, but what would it mean for the future of relations between the U.S. and Iran?

Long Story Short

60 days

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The Death Penalty Gets More Controversial Now That Utah Has Reinstated the Firing Squad

In the wake of botched executions in other states and a shortage of drugs used in lethal injection, Utah has brought back the firing squad. It's another twist in the story of capital punishment in the United States.

Long Story Short

66 days

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World's Most Complex Machine Gets Ready for More Atom-Smashing

Jessica DePalma

The Large Hadron Collider is about to be fired up again after it was shutdown years ago for upgrades.

Long Story Short

67 days

NBC News

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The Hostage Tape as ISIS Propaganda

Few recruiting techniques are more brutal than ISIS' graphic beheading videos, but while shocking, using hostage tapes as propaganda is nothing new.

Long Story Short

71 days

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Everything You Need to Know About Daylight Saving Time

Matt Toder

Thanks to the end of Daylight Saving time, we all lose one hour of sleep Saturday night. While you're griping about that lost hour, check out this history of time zones and Daylight Saving time.

Long Story Short

79 days

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Beyond Keystone XL: 3 Issues to Watch

Jake Heller

Yes, Obama vetoed Keystone XL. But the fights underpinning the battle over the pipeline will continue.

Long Story Short

87 days

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The Background on the Obama Administration's Decision to Sell Drones

The Obama administration is changing the U.S.' long-held rules on not selling drones and will begin to allow the sale of unmanned aircraft. Already the White House's weapon of choice, this move is unlikely to make the drone program less controversial.

Meet the Press

92 days

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Which Presidents Got What Named After Them?

Matt Rivera

Sure, we know the Hoover Dam. But did you know that Grover Cleveland has two counties named after him?

Long Story Short

92 days

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How to go to War Without Declaring War

It's been 70 years since the United States has officially declared war, yet there's been several bloody - and protracted - conflicts. Understanding why requires a close look at the War Powers Act.

Long Story Short

102 days

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Measles Then and Now: Ancient Disease Still A Threat

Rebecca Davis

Measles was previously declared eliminated in the U.S., but now it's making Americans sick once again.

Saudi Arabia Succession

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113 days

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Saudi Succession Gets Complicated

Matt Rivera

As the sons of King Abdul Aziz age out of the position, the many possible heirs to the Saudi throne are seeing what the future will hold for them.

Long Story Short

115 days

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From Spygate to Deflate-gate: The New England Patriots' Cheating Scandals

The NFL's ongoing investigation into the New England Patriots deflating footballs is far from the Pats' first brush with controversy. Here's a recounting of some of their recent cheating scandals.

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129 days

DON EMMERT / AFP - Getty Images

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Before the Attack: Timeline of the Muhammad Cartoons

Jake Heller

When were the cartoons first published? What happened between then and now? This 'Long Story Short' explains it all.

Long Story Short

149 days

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Happy Birthday: This U.S. Icon Turns 100

Matt Rivera

The official currency of the United States, the Federal Reserve Note, marks 100 years since it was first printed. Matt Rivera tracks the rise of the world's reserve currency.