Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. Why did the Amish choose Pennsylvania? Stick around for the race featuring Floridas favorite roadkill, the oft-leprous armadillo. The border is mostly a straight line from Vancouver to the middle of Minnesota, but it gets weird in the middle. Nevada has some of the highest unemployment and foreclosure rates in the country. Over the past two years, tens of millions of Americans have quit their jobs. And, when convenient, Michael Moore. Terms of Use And then bleeding to death on the highway. They just don't wanna be finishin' it. Others know it, having attended the Iowa caucuses. A 32-year-old from Cutler Bay was arrested for biting off the head of his girlfriends pet python during a domestic dispute. Corn and kingmaking are Iowa's two major pastimes, though it's developed a strong sideline in relentlessly dreary fiction via the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Who needs fancy stuff like food when you can mingle with the cast of Wild Hogs? Also, Maine's #1 cuisine is basically a giant oceanic cockroach. In the course of a single month this year, the following news reports emanated from Florida: A gun enthusiast in Tampa built a 55-foot backyard pool shaped like a revolver, with a hot tub in the hammer. But they're also the nation's largest consumer of paid pornography. Joseph Henrich explores WEIRD societies - Harvard Gazette In his speeches, the governor likes to boast that Florida is where woke goes to die. In his 2022 campaign videos, he styled himself as a Top Gun pilot and possibly even Jesus himself. In California, you can have it all: earthquakes, wildfires, blackouts, drought, water-theft, Olympian excess amidst Appalachian poverty, budget shortfalls the size of small countries' GDPs, and political theater that makes Italy look as sober as the Bundestag. Some believe a tiny group of white people rule the world. Answer (1 of 5): Right now! For this reason, plants in Alaska, particularly cabbage, can grow to be abnormally large. Empire can be used as a pejorative, but Im not talking about the countrys character. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. What role did technology play in the United States giving up territories? (When Trump entered the 2024 presidential race, the formerly supportive New York Post jeered at him with the front-page headline Florida Man Makes Announcement before relegating the news story to page 26.). A short drive north on Highway 41 from the congregating manatees is Gibsonton, aka Gibtown. It also excludes the places that are still territories of the United StatesPuerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As for your nostrils, the eastern third of the state is practically awash in pig feces. In 2008, an economist called Vermont's Francophile economy "stagnant," and predicted it would continue to be that way for the next 30 years. In your book, you lay out three acts of American history. 8 Can't-Miss Things to Do in Kentucky Derby Country, Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Amsterdams Top Attractions, Why Jaipur Will Be Your Favorite City in the Golden Triangle Circuit, A City That Looks Like Russia and Tastes Like Sweden Is Finally Claiming Its Own Identity, International Independent Showmens Museum, 35 Ultimate Things to Do in New York City, 10 Things to Do in Orlando Besides Disney World, The Best Oceanfront Hotels in Miami Beach, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Now, that seems to be ending. That gives plenty of good reasons to start packing. Meanwhile, some of his constituents, legions of leathery, orange-tinted whitefolk, exult in their state-sanctioned right to concealed weapons and unconcealed racism, and call for full militarization of their border. It's a bunch of bullshit. All of which makes them easier targets: If you live here, you WILL be hit in the head with a battery. Do you remember the story about the woman who got in trouble in New Jersey for trying to board a plane with her emotional-support peacock?, Scan this QR code to download the app now. How Did America's Weirdest, Most Freedom-Obsessed State Fall for an Authoritarian Governor? The third act is where we are today. North Carolina turned blue in the last presidential election, but it was probably from asphyxiation and heart disease: A whole lot of cigarettes are still made in Tarheel country and Krispy Kreme doughnuts were born thereso while James Taylor may be going to Carolina in his mind, there's a statistically significant chance that Carolina's going straight to your arteries and lungs. Virginia's making history up! He tried to induce diseases in some of his patients just to see how they would fare. Switzerland too flashy for you? No one wearing a Harvard hoodie has ever looked as uncomfortable as Miranda Hobbes, the no-nonsense lawyer played by Cynthia Nixon, does in an episode from the fir, The Fundraising Stunts Are Getting Out of Control, You dont become a billionaire without being clever with money, but Doug Burgums latest scheme is a head-scratcher: The North Dakota governor is offering $20 gift cards to people who donate one greenback dollar to his presidential campaign. From day one the United States has included both states and territories, with the territories treated differently. Why airline delays and cancellations are so bad: It's not just the The Atlantic on Twitter: "How did freedom-loving Florida fall for an by Helen Lewis Mar 27, 2023 25 minutes Save for Later Source: Brandon Celi Illustrations by Brandon Celi In the course of a single month this year, the following news reports emanated from Florida: A gun enthusiast in Tampa built a 55-foot backyard pool shaped like a revolver, with a hot tub in the hammer. Telling the History of the U.S. Through Its Territories Hypothesis: It makes you really, really fat. His fell, The heatmiserable and oppressiveis not abating. More bold, more egregious and more attention-grabbing., DeSantis shows early state strength in Iowa and N.H. polls, Eyes on 2024: Trump rails against deep state in first '24 rally, DeSantis neck and neck with Trump in early primary states: Poll, DeSantis takes lead over Trump in early Iowa, New Hampshire polls. Title Corrected: How Did America's Weirdest, Most Freedom-Obsessed State Fall for an Authoritarian Governor? (It holds the record for the lowest recorded temperature in the U.S., -80 degrees Fjust three degrees above the temperature of nasty Katie Couric's heart.) The thing about being the punch-line state is that its all true, the writer Craig Pittman told me over Zoom, his tropical-print shirt gleaming in the sun. Besides rain and Microsoft, The Evergreen State is really only known for two things: tossed salad and scrambled eggs. Yes. But wouldn't you rather just watch CSI: Anywhere Else? Dara Horn Brandon Celi How Did America's Weirdest, Most Freedom-Obsessed State Fall for an Authoritarian Governor? Do you like apples, Massachusetts? Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. With its low population density, good schools, and 'Live Free or Die" spirit, The Granite State (like Minnesota) is often mentioned as one of the "Best Places to Live in America." Alabama, which gave the world George Wallace, racially-polarized schoolhouse doors, and several hit songs containing the word "Alabama," has a thriving air and space industry. A Note to our Readers The so-called megadrought that's afflicting the American West is the worst in 1,200 years. But Dinosaur World is there to soothe your last nerve. Alaska is the largest state in the United States, and was sold for a total of $7.2 million, which amounts to about 2 cents per acre. It has dried up water supplies, threatened ranchers, and . Indeed, he instead got promoted within the medical establishment and became one of the founders of chemotherapy. Except litter. Why is that? Since 1957, GQ has inspired men to look sharper and live smarter with its unparalleled coverage of style, culture, and beyond. Barnum, George W. Bush, Benedict Arnold and AIG's notorious Financial Products division all hail from The Nutmeg State, where the egregious wealth gap is hang on a second the Nutmeg State? But most of the golf cartsan estimated 60,000arent used on the fairways, but for the 115,000 residents to tool around in. How Did America's Weirdest, Most Freedom-Obsessed State Fall - Scribd The good news is, there's no more debate over which flag SC oughta fly over the Capitol: The good ol' "Stars and Tards. Floridas karst foundation, limestone easily dissolved by water, means it leads the nation in the number of reported sinkholes that open up and engulf everything in their maw. Wanna stash some untad cash? You Can't Cancel Me, I Quit I was supposed to speak at Furman University. Developing synthetic rubber meant it didnt need tropical colonies to grow rubber. In fact, some of them never do. But it stubbornly insists on waiting for rising sea levels to take it. How Did America's Weirdest, Most Freedom-Obsessed State Fall for an Authoritarian Governor? Then theres Florida Man (Florida Woman, too). How Did America's Weirdest, Most Freedom-Obsessed State Fall for an New laws took effect July 1 in states across the country. What to know https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/05/ron-desantis-florida-state-politics-gop/673489/. Yes, The Biden State is a shifty little dickens: It didn't even free its slaves until forced to by the 13th Amendment in 1865. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full. And toothless. With the reddest pavement: More motor vehicle accidents happen here (per miles driven) than anywhere else. But New Hampshire ranks near the bottom in church attendance. In the other corner stands the states current governor, Ron DeSantis, raised in the Gulf Coast town of Dunedin, a man desperately trying to conceal his attendance at the elite institutions of Harvard and Yale under lashings of bronzer and highly choreographed outrages. From the article: "Internet memes sometimes refer to Florida as "the America of America," but to a Brit like me, it's more like the Australia of America: The What is the oldest independent country in the Americas/Western All rights reserved. Although its exact age isn't known, the New River, which flows from the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina to Virginia and West Virginia, is thought by most scientists to be the oldest in North. Kansas is one of the slowest-growing states in the union. ", People in Rhode Island love to get high. These days, The Equality State still has the nation's smallest population. We strive to be a space where people from all political points of view can discuss the issues of the day substantively and respectfully. Holy madre de Cristo, where to begin? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. There's cocaine in the cities! Perhaps youll also pick up vibes standing on the corner of Mediumship Way and Spiritualist Street. Blood grows hot, and blood is spilled. In headlines, all of these exploits were attributed to a single character, one first popularized in 2013 by a Twitter account of the same name: Florida Man, also known as the worlds worst superhero, a creature of eccentric rule-breaking, rugged defiance, and unhinged minor atrocities. Hankering for your own swanky cart? The Camp, as its called, claims its a naturally-occurring vortex, that is a point of concentrated psychic energy, like Stonehenge. America's debt is skyrocketing and is unsustainable. July 12, 2023. Think youve got what it takes to shake your tail? So at least for the first few decades, what you can see is leaders of the United States government trying to tightly control the process of white settlement. 51. The sun can shine for up to 20 hours during this far northern state's summer months. DO YOU LIKE APPLES? Apropos, because this state's a bit of a woofer. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Anna Diamond is the former assistant editor for Smithsonian magazine. In his upcoming book How to Hide an Empire, Immerwahr sets out to tell the history of the Greater United States, what lies beyond the mainland. Yes, in the slightly less technicolor, non-Rodgers Hammerstein version of the Sooner State, a "surrey with the fringe on top" is women's-prison slang for an act we can't begin to describe in this family magazine. All rights reserved. The general Republican mindset now is about grievances against condescending elites, Michael Grunwald, the Miami-based author of The Swamp, told me, and it fits with the sense that were Florida Man; everyone makes fun of us. But criticism doesnt faze Florida men; it emboldens them. and Its not just because the map is missing Alaska and the peppering of the Hawaiian islands. Luckily, Colorado also contains the highest peaks in the Rockies, if you're looking for a quick exit. It turns due north in the middle of Minnesota, and heads up in to Canada, lopping off a chunk of Ontario for the Minnesotans. John Atkinson on LinkedIn: How Did America's Weirdest, Most Freedom If Liotta'd been smart, he would've turned around and headed right back into his ghost corn. ago Gerrymandering. Floridas place in the national mythology is as Americas pulsing id, a vision of life without the necessary restriction of shame. Rhoads is still remembered there to this day as a villain. He's Stuck in the Past. Sign up for it here. Visit our new National Parks section! But if you pay attention to territory, it starts to look a little different. Now, even if 4 members of a 12-person jury disagree, the state can still sentence people to death. How do we think about our territories today? TikTok ban rhetoric isn't helping, Jon Stewart says Senate is like an assisted-living facility, On CNN, Jon Stewart TRASHES GOP on CRT, Argues DEI Initiatives Are a Weak Salve, Funny cuz it's TRUE: Jon Stewart's Senate ZINGER accidentally hits John Fetterman RIGHT in the kisser, Comedian Likens Senate to An Assisted Living Facility, Jon Stewart Compares Senate To Assisted Living Facility When Discussing His Activism, On GPS: Jon Stewart on a potential Trump indictment, Tax Cuts Are Primarily Responsible for the Increasing Debt Ratio, Blame tax cuts for Washington's budget woes, new report says, Rep. 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Several smaller, man-made vortices are scattered about, a result of all the extrasensory activity. No reservations required: the certified mediums and healers accept walk-up appointments. May 2023 Issue - The Atlantic How Did America's Weirdest, Most Freedom-Obsessed State Fall for an Authoritarian Governor? In her 1942 memoir, Cross Creek, noted Florida author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings wrote, The Ritz and the Waldorf and such haunts also serve our most exotic vegetable. The Land of Enchantment may be beautiful, but it's got an ugly drug-trafficking problem. If you were just reading a textbook, you might imagine that the United States was an expansive republic from day one and that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson just couldnt wait to expand the borders of their small country within North America. He intentionally didnt treat the patients. In one corner, you have Donald Trump, who retired, sulking, from the presidency to his Winter White House at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach. He is an . angelazy Imports of the dregs of every other state as well as the constant influx of boomer retirees. It might be a Shoshone word meaning "gem of the mountains." The territories almost never appear on maps of the country, and census statistics usually exclude them. Sign up for it here. The Dead Zone is another. Maybe it's time to burn it again, this time for the insurance money. Go figure. So.rain and Microsoft. The Great Oklahoma Swindle: Race, Religion, and Lies in America's Naturist resorts are plentiful, giving new meaning to the description, room with a view. Paradise Lakes Resort bills itself as a clothing-optional retreat in the heart of the nudist capital of the United StatesPasco County. Kids are welcome. After they're soused, Wisconsonites can then take to the roads and benefit from remarkably lax drunk driving laws. Woodrow Wilson spoke of them as lying outside the charmed circle of our own national life. That attitude is ingrained. American territories have served as labs for various mainlanders experiments. What was once the narrowest swing state has come to embody an emotional new strain of conservatism.