History

The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center is using holograms to help visitors learn about the experiences of people during the Holocaust.

National

Illinois Holocaust Museum Preserves Survivors' Stories — As Holograms

5:39pm December 19, 2017

by Sam Gringlas

Hearing firsthand accounts from survivors has been key for Holocaust education. The first-of-its-kind exhibit features holograms of 13 survivors who answered 2,000 questions about their experiences.

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Religion

How The Israeli Sufganiyah, Or Jelly Doughnut, Got Its Start As A Hanukkah Treat

5:39pm December 19, 2017

Why are jelly doughnuts served on Hanukkah? The practice has a history that goes back several centuries.

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A smörgåsbord at the Christmas party held at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C. this year. The smörgåsbord was introduced to America in 1939 by the Swedish delegation to the World's Fair. The holiday version of the meal, called a julbord, is trad

At Christmas, The Swedish Smörgåsbord Redefines Over The Top

4:12pm December 19, 2017

by Larissa Zimberoff

First rule of smörgåsbord: Pace yourself. You've got to make your way through dozens of dishes — fish courses, ham, cheeses, warm entrees. And don't forget dessert. Or should we say desserts?

Appearing on Christmas tables and at winter weddings, smør bullar cookies evoke powdery snowballs.

Smør Bullar: The Classic Danish Christmas Cookie No One Has Heard Of

1:34pm December 18, 2017

by Amy E. Robertson

For one writer, the small, buttery Danish cookie her Scandinavian-American family made during Christmas was the taste of the holidays. Turns out, the classic Danish cookie may not be Danish after all.

What's 'Casablanca' Without Nazis? After WWII, German Audiences Found Out

6:42pm December 17, 2017

by Isabelle Ross

The original Casablanca was passionately anti-Nazi. But when it was dubbed for German audiences, Warner Bros. deleted all scenes with Nazis in them, and almost all mention of the war.

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Books

In 'Fortress America,' Examining How Fear Crept Into American Life

6:42pm December 17, 2017

by Ray Suarez

Historian Elaine Tyler May says that since the Cold War, fear has crept into American life. Her new book, Fortress America, examines key events that shaped today's political climate.

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Politics & Government

An 'Accidental President,' Then And Now

5:20pm December 14, 2017

Presidents Trump and Truman get compared a lot. Here's why.

Politics & Government

Ask Cokie: Questions On U.S. Recognizing Jerusalem As Israel's Capital

5:57am December 13, 2017

Commentator and columnist Cokie Roberts takes listener questions on the history of U.S. policy regarding the status of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Politics & Government

A Refresher On Anita Hill And Clarence Thomas

1:42pm December 10, 2017

by Ron Elving

In the wake of today's #MeToo moment, the confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas and the testimony of Anita Hill have new resonance.

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The 'Racial Cleansing' That Drove 1,100 Black Residents Out Of Forsyth County, Ga.

8:15pm December 08, 2017

In 1912, white mobs set fire to black churches and black-owned businesses. Author Patrick Phillips revisits the incident in his book, Blood at the Root. Originally broadcast Sept. 15, 2016.

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