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Two hands hold up colorful wooden numbers 6 and 7, with a child and an older adult smiling in the blurred background.

Culture

Magic Number

November 12, 2025

Lock in, chat: Dictionary.com’s word of the year is 67. The online dictionary announced its pick on October 28. Last year, the site chose demure, a word that means “reserved, shy, or modest.” That choice was made after a TikTok…

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A volunteer organizes bags of fresh produce on metal shelves in a food pantry.

Government

Shutdown Update

November 6, 2025

At press time, the United States government has been shut down for 37 days: the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The previous record was 35 days, set in 2019. The shutdown began on October 1 (see “TFK Explains: Government Shutdown”).…

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Baseball players wearing “Dodgers 2025 World Champions” shirts cheer and lift a trophy during a World Series celebration.

Sports

Victory Cry

November 6, 2025

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto hoists the Most Valuable Player trophy on November 1, in Toronto, in Canada. The Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blu…

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A boy wearing green headphones and a green t-shirt standing in the cockpit of a plane. The pilot sits behind him.

Transportation

Taking Flight

October 9, 2025

The chaos of a busy airport. Loud noises on a plane. For some people—particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities —air travel can be overwhelming. The Arc is an organization that supports people with disabilities. It has found a way…

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Spanish
A sign posted on a fence that says, “Due to the Federal Government shutdown, this facility is closed. We regret any inconvenience.”

Government

TFK Explains: Government Shutdown

October 7, 2025

On October 1, the United States government shut down. At press time, it had not reopened. Here, TFK explains. What is a government shutdown? Government agencies depend on funding from Congress to operate. A government shutdown happens when lawmakers are…

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Games

Game Changers

September 17, 2025

Toys are serious business at the the Strong National Museum of Play, in Rochester, New York. On September 17, the museum’s National Toy Hall of Fame announced the 12 finalists for its class of 2025. The winning toys will be…

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Careers

The Team Behind the Team

September 1, 2025

The NFL’s Brandon Copeland highlights the many jobs—behind the scenes and off the field—that make game day happen. “If you like sports,” he says, “there are so …

Culture

Gen Alpha’s Impact

August 28, 2025

Members of Generation Alpha are introducing their parents to a whole new world. In July, public relations firm DKC released a report focusing on parents of kids ages 8 to 14. These kids are often referred to as Generation Alpha,…

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Animals

Little Legs

August 28, 2025

Corgi owners release their pups during the Corgi Race Vilnius 2025. The annual event took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, on August 23 and 24. Corgis competed in r…

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World

Robot Rumble

August 14, 2025

Robots compete in a boxing match at the World Robot Expo, in Beijing, China. The expo took place from August 8 to 12. It showcased the latest in robotics, inclu…

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