After Donald J. Trump entered the White House in 2017, The Washington Post adopted a slogan that underscored the newspaper’s traditional role as a government watchdog: “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” This week, as Mr. Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, the newspaper debuted a mission statement that evokes a more expansive view of The Post’s journalism, without death or darkness: “Riveting Storytelling for All of America.” The statement is meant to be an internal rallying point for...

Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) open-minded approach to President-elect Trump is fueling questions about his motives and vexing some of his fellow Democrats. In the wake of Trump’s victory in November, Fetterman has emerged as a critic of his own party’s messaging, while also signaling a willingness to entertain some of the incoming administration’s policy ideas. The Pennsylvania senator drew praise from Trump himself after the two men met last week. Fetterman had already become a...

In a move that has alarmed national security experts and Republicans alike, outgoing President Joe Biden has removed Cuba from the U.S. State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism, despite the island nation’s well-documented ties to terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. This decision, widely criticized as a dangerous concession, overlooks Cuba's continued support for terrorist groups, which threaten U.S. allies and interests in the Middle East and beyond. Biden’s move is...

President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address to the nation on Wednesday night. In his speech, Biden touted his record on the economy and his support for “democracy.”   “The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France after our Civil War, like the very idea of America, it was built not by one person, but by many people, from every background, and from around the world,” Biden said. The outgoing president blasted the “wealthy” and “oligarchs” who he said are corrupting politics....

Quick Take President Joe Biden said victims of the California fires are eligible for a $770 payment for necessities like food and fuel. Social media posts misleadingly suggested the payment would be the only federal aid for those affected by the fires. Federal aid available to the fire victims includes help with home repair or replacement, medical expenses and other assistance. Full Story The wildfires burning in Southern California since Jan. 7 have killed at least 24...

California’s firefighting agency did not reject firetrucks sent from Oregon to help with the Los Angeles fires, contrary to online posts saying the vehicles were not deployed because they didn’t meet California’s strict emissions standards. No out-of-state vehicles have been turned away, California and Oregon fire officials told Reuters. Two major wildfires have ravaged parts of Los Angeles city and county for more than a week, killing at least 25 people and damaging some 12,000...

Warning: The following video contains disturbing imagery.Security camera footage out of Thailand is a warning to people everywhere about the importance of making sure children are safe around pools. It’s also a wonderful story about a toddler being brave and looking out for her younger sister.Kana Kanuengnit, 3, and 2-year-old Kaning were hanging around their family’s pool in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand on Friday, April 1, 2022 when the incident happened. Their father, 29-year-old Apisit, was watching the kids while their mother was inside the house."I was sweeping near the pool and my wife was cooking in the kitchen behind the house," he said to Yahoo. “We weren't planning for any pool activities so I didn't notice what was happening. But after a moment of me sweeping with my back to the pool, my younger daughter fell into the pool.”Kaning fell into the 4-foot-deep pool and immediately struggled to keep her head above water. Her older sister, Kana, realized she was in danger and immediately called out to her father, whose back was still turned while he swept near some patio furniture.The girl screamed to her father that Kaning was in the pool and quickly sprang into action."I didn't know what to do, I forgot to think about my phone and things in my pocket. I threw it all and just jumped in the pool," Apisit said. The father was fast on his feet and pulled his daughter out of the pool before she sank to the bottom. We’re pretty sure the father couldn't care less about his phone knowing that his daughter is safe.Apisit hopes that the harrowing video serves as a warning for parents everywhere. "I think this is a great example to remind people that you cannot take your eyes off even for a split second when there are children and water," he said."I want to stress this to parents with small kids and a pool to put up a barrier around the pool if not, they should always be careful,” he added.The story brings to mind one that Upworthy covered in the 2020. A 3-year-old boy named Henrique in Rio de Janeiro snuck away from his parents and was playing poolside with another child his age named Arthur.In the video, Henrique is seen stretching to grab an inflatable toy and then falls into the pool. For 10 seconds Henqriue struggles to keep his head above water until Arthur bravely extends his hand and pulls the boy up. If Arthur didn't have the strength, he could have fallen into the pool and both boys may have died.As warmer weather approaches, kids will be playing in or around pools. Every year, around 400 children aged 15 and younger die in a pool or spa incident. Three-quarters of those deaths involve children younger than 5, and 83% of those occur in residential pools.To prevent your child from joining these numbers, there are three rules every parent should follow:1. Never leave a child in or near water unattended.2. Make sure there are barriers around your pool or spa to prevent unsupervised children from getting into the water.3. Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults.This story originally appeared three years ago.

When we’re kids, fun comes so easily. You have coloring books and team sports and daily recess...so many opportunities to laugh, play, and explore. As we get older, these activities get replaced by routine and responsibility (and yes, at times, survival). Adulthood, yuck.Many of us want to have more fun, but making time for it still doesn’t come as easily as it did when we were kids—whether that’s because of guilt, a long list of other priorities, or because we don’t feel it’s an age-appropriate thing to long for. Luckily, we’ve come to realize that fun isn’t just a luxury of childhood, but really a vital aspect of living well—like reducing stress, balancing hormone levels, and even improving relationships.More and more people of all ages are letting their inner kids out to play, and the feelings are delightfully infectious.You might be wanting to instill a little more childlike wonder into your own life, and not sure where to start. Never fear, the Internet is here. Reddit user SetsunaSaigami asked people, “What always remains fun no matter how old you get?” People’s (surprisingly profound) answers were great reminders that no matter how complex our lives become, simple joy will always be important.Here are 14 timeless pleasures to make you feel like a kid again:1. Playing with dogsvia GIPHY Doggos are basically furry children, so this one’s a no-brainer. 2. Legosvia GIPHYThe only thing NOT fun about Legos is stepping on one. Everything else is pure magic. 3. Popping bubble wrapvia GIPHYWith each satisfying “pop” sound, just imagine tiny bursts of dopamine flooding the brain. 4. Riding roller coastersvia GIPHYWhile it’s true that riding roller coasters might become less physically possible with age, barring that limitation—you’re never too old to ride one. 5. Arcadesvia GIPHYPlaying video games at home is cool, but there's a special thrill in seeing an arcade absolutely buzzing with different game sounds, colored lights, and other people enjoying themselves.6. Go-karts via GIPHYBecause speeding in real life is irresponsible.7. Pillow fightsvia GIPHYA quintessential sleepover activity that can easily be done with a roommate. Bonus points for surprise attacks. 8. Dinosaursvia GIPHYWhether in toy or nugget form, dinosaurs are a delight.9. Dressing up for Halloweenvia GIPHYHalloween costumes can go from a fun form of playful expression in our younger years to a source of self-image issues in our teens and beyond (as so many things in life do). Hopefully though, dressing up for the spooky season can be a highlight on the calendar.10. Water slidesvia GIPHYRoller coasters in liquid form! 11. Dollsvia GIPHYWe no longer have to hide our passion for toys under the serious moniker of “collecting.” Playing with dolls is a fun practice in storytelling and has even shown a very specific set of therapeutic benefits. Permission, granted!12. Daydreamingvia GIPHYRemember peacefully imagining made-up worlds while staring up at the clouds? Those were good times.13. Swingsvia GIPHYWhether you are a traditionalist or prefer to go crazy and twist yourself up for some epic spins, a swing set is a perfect place to let your inner child out and get some exercise. 14. Taking sick daysvia GIPHYEverything is more fun when you do it during a time you technically should be somewhere else. This article originally appeared three years ago.

Although it is difficult to tell if there is a trend of Americans moving out of the country, rough estimates show that around 8 million currently live in other countries—double the 4.1 million living abroad in 1999.The most popular countries for Americans to move to are Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom, in that order.A big reason why some are leaving the U.S. is that an increasing number of employers allow people to work abroad. Others are choosing to leave because of cost of living increases and “golden visa” programs. Golden visas offer the chance to get a foreign residency permit by purchasing a house or making a significant investment or donation.A couple is going viral on TikTok because they’ve decided to leave America and move to Spain. Luna Ashley Santel had wanted to move for a long time, but her husband wasn’t on board with the change until he had a lightbulb moment while visiting a Spanish café. The couple are parents of a 4-year-old daughter, and a big reason for their decision to leave is her safety. @lunagoestospain Here’s what shifted for him. I’m sure this’ll piss the right people off. No pun intended. #movingabroad #spaindigitalnomadvisa #movingabroadwithpets #movingtospainwithkids While spending time in Spain, the couple went to a crowded café, which would have made them uncomfortable back home in St. Louis, Missouri.“There's a ton of people walking around. Being from St. Louis, that's not a very comfortable place for me to be in,” the husband said. “And you turn to me and say, ‘Have you seen all these people?’” he recounted his wife saying.“And you're like, ‘None of them have guns,’” he continued.At this moment, he realized that living in America caused him to be on alert whenever he was out in public. A feeling he never got in Spain. “And I realized this weight that I had been carrying around my whole life wasn't necessary. Like what we think is normal is not normal,” he said.When it comes to firearm policy, Spain and Missouri couldn’t be more different. In Spain, owning a handgun for self-defense is allowed when you are in verifiable danger. In Missouri, there is no permit requirement to carry a firearm, whether it’s concealed or carried openly.In Spain, the gun death rate per 100,000 people in 2019 was 0.64. Whereas, in Missouri, the chance of being killed by a gun is more than 36 times greater, with 23.2 people per every 100,000 dying by gun in 2021.The video resonated with many Americans who feel uncomfortable living in a country that has become accustomed to mass shootings."There’s so much mental energy we dedicate to simply existing in the U.S.," Mintmage wrote. "As a father of two young boys, your husband’s explanation has me shook because I cannot disagree," Astrolo-G added."That is literally my main motivator for leaving the country. I am terrified for my son," Doula Faye wrote.Luna’s husband isn’t the only one in the family concerned about school safety in the U.S. Luna, a former teacher of 7 years, believes that sending her daughter to a school where they have “terrifying” intruder drills is unacceptable. “It's nothing that I want my 5-year-old child to have to accept or learn as normal,” she says in another TikTok post. @lunagoestospain Replying to @CholeraMeBadd a huge reason we are getting out. #gettingoutoftheusa #movingabroad #alicedrill #alicedrills #iquitteaching #ididntsignupforthishit #movingtospainwithkids Mass shootings aren't the only reason why many Americans want to leave the country. Other common reasons for becoming an expat include the cost of living, politics, and overall quality of life.This article originally appeared two years ago.

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