Oct. 6 News Quiz: Who was the first US Speaker of the House to be voted out?

On Oct. 3, 2023, the US House of Representatives witnessed an unprecedented event. Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his lofty perch as Speaker of the House. He became the first individual to experience such a fate through a resolution to remove them. The vote was a nail-biter, tallying 216 to 210, with a twist of eight Republicans, led by Matt Gaetz, voting to boot McCarthy. Amidst the turmoil, McCarthy declared he would not seek the Speaker’s gavel again, leaving the House in a frantic search for a successor and political spectators grabbing their popcorn.

On Sept. 30, 2023, Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York pulled the fire alarm in a Capitol office building. Why, you ask? Well, he was in a hurry! Bowman was “rushing to make” a crucial vote and mistakenly thought that activating the fire alarm would open a usually accessible door. The US Capitol Police confirmed the building evacuation and an investigation was launched. The incident added a twist to an already tense day as the House voted on a measure to prevent a government shutdown. Thankfully, the House voted 335-91 to fund the government for 45 days.

During the Synod of Bishops held from Oct. 4-29, 2023, in Vatican City, for the first time, women were not only participants but also had the right to vote in the discussions. Among the 365 voting members, 54 were women, actively contributing to the synod dialogues and decisions. The discussion topics were wide-ranging, including women’s roles in decision-making positions within the church and the potential for their ordination as deacons. This event also hosted discussions on contemporary issues, including LGBTQ+ inclusion and accountability in church governance.

Former President Donald Trump’s financial statements became the star of the show in a New York civil fraud trial on Oct. 2, 2023. The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, is seeking a whopping $250 million and sanctions that could bid farewell to the Trumps doing business in New York. Despite allegations of inflating his wealth by as much as $3.6 billion to charm banks into giving him loans, Trump, ever the optimist, proclaimed his financial statements “phenomenal.”

Fun Fact: On Oct. 3, 2023, Justice Engoron ordered the former president not to attack or even comment on court staff after Trump posted a message to social media mocking the Judge’s law clerk, Allison Greenfield. The Judge stated that this “gag order” forbids any posts, emails, or public remarks about the court’s staff and threatened Trump with “serious sanctions.”

Dianne Feinstein made history as the first woman to serve as Mayor of San Francisco after the assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Harvey Milk in 1978. She continued her pioneering journey by serving in the US Senate for over three decades. In this role, Feinstein chaired the investigation into the CIA’s post-9/11 activities. In Feb. 2023, 90-year-old Feinstein, the oldest sitting US senator, announced she would not seek re-election in 2024. She died on Sept. 28, 2023.

Fun Fact: While Lady Bird Johnson didn’t run San Francisco, she was First Lady.

Tupac Shakur, known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was born on June 16, 1971. He was shot multiple times in Las Vegas on Sept. 7, 1996, and died in a hospital 6 days later. He was only 25. Recent developments in 2023 brought his case back into the spotlight when Duane “Keffe D” Davis was arrested and indicted on a murder charge in Las Vegas. He was identified as one of the last living witnesses to the drive-by shooting that took Shakur’s life.

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, was born in 1924 in Plains, Georgia. The League of Nations Assembly adopted the Geneva Protocol a day after his birth. This protocol prohibited using chemical and biological weapons in international armed conflicts. On Oct. 1, 2023, Carter celebrated his 99th birthday at his presidential library and museum in Atlanta. Carter is the longest-lived US president ever, and his wife, 96-year-old Rosalynn Carter, is the second-longest-lived first lady after Bess Truman.

Fun Fact: Jimmy Carter, whose full name is James Earl Carter Jr., was the first American president born in a hospital.

Apple, the tech giant from Cupertino, California, recently faced a heated situation with its iPhone 15 models. Users around the globe reported that their shiny Apple iPhones were getting too warm for comfort. Apple found that a software bug and some popular apps like Instagram and Uber caused the devices to run hotter than a summer day in the desert. On Sept. 30, 2023, Apple announced that they’re working on an update to the iOS 17 system to cool things down.

Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman were awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pivotal discoveries concerning modifying nucleosides in mRNA. These discoveries significantly impacted the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. This dynamic duo, who began their journey together in 1998, unlocked the secret to preventing the immune system from attacking synthetic mRNA. This revelation, published in 2005, fundamentally altered our understanding of how mRNA interacts with the immune system. Their discovery was a monumental milestone that enabled the rapid development and global distribution of mRNA vaccines during the pandemic, notably by Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer, saving countless lives across the globe. Once met with skepticism and funding challenges, this mRNA technology has potential future applications for vaccines against other diseases, such as influenza, malaria, HIV, and cancer.

In 2023, Paris and other French cities experienced a notable increase in bedbug infestations, leading to widespread public and mental health concerns. The French government, recognizing the severity of the issue, hosted emergency meetings to devise strategies to manage the situation, especially in light of the ongoing Rugby World Cup and the upcoming 2024 Olympics. Bedbugs, notorious for their blood-sucking habits, can cause physical discomfort and psychological distress despite not being carriers of diseases. The resurgence of these pests observed not just in France but globally, has been attributed to factors like globalization and bedbug adaptation to resist chemical eradication methods used in the past.

The Las Vegas Sphere is not just a venue. Standing tall at 366 feet and stretching wide at 516 feet, it’s arguably the world’s largest spherical structure, built for an estimated $2.3 billion. But it’s not just about size. Inside, it boasts a whopping 160,000 square-foot wraparound LED display of 260 million video pixels that’s so lifelike, you might forget you’re in Vegas. And if that’s not enough, the Sphere’s sound system has roughly 1,600 loudspeakers delivering crystal-clear audio. On Sept. 30, 2023, U2 marked the Sphere’s debut with a spectacular performance.

This Barbie is modeled after Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac. Unveiled on Oct. 1, 2023, during a performance at Madison Square Garden, this miniature rock icon, which was available for $55 and rapidly sold out, is a nod to Nicks’s look from the 1977 “Rumours” album cover. Mattel went to great lengths to ensure this Barbie’s authenticity, utilizing Nicks’s original attire and boots as a reference during the design process. Stevie Nicks has warmly embraced the doll. However, in an interview promoting her new Barbie, Nicks told Vulture that Fleetwood Mac would not perform again after Christine McVie’s death. “When she died, I figured we really can’t go any further with this. There’s no reason to“, she explained.

“Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” announced right after the tour’s final bow in Kansas City, Mo, on Oct. 1, 2023, is a comprehensive documentary that chronicles the entire journey of the 2023 Renaissance World Tour. From its grand opening in Stockholm in May to its finale in October, the film promises to deliver not just the high-energy performances from various shows but also a sneak peek into Beyoncé and her team’s behind-the-scenes world, including preparations and intimate moments with her family. The film’s release date is Dec. 1, 2023.

“Mean Girls” celebrated “Mean Girls Day” on Oct. 3, 2023, by launching the entire film on TikTok, divided into 23 parts. It’s the first Hollywood studio film adapted for TikTok. Fans celebrate this day due to a notable scene where Cady Heron (played by Lindsay Lohan) informs Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett) that the date is Oct. 3. Paramount Pictures made this strategic move to bring the beloved 2004 movie, written by Tina Fey, to a younger audience. Fans of the franchise can look forward to the upcoming “Mean Girls” movie, based on the Broadway musical adaptation, set to hit theaters on Jan. 12, 2024.