Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, January 29, 2025. I am Dom Einhorn, your lead curator, and here are your insights into what makes this day in history relevant today. First time reading? Join our community of intellectually curious readers who explore the history behind every day. [Sign up here]

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Today in History

Marquee Event of the Day

> January 29, 2002: U.S. President George W. Bush, during his State of the Union address, characterizes Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as an "axis of evil," citing their efforts to develop nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.

Why this matters: The 2002 State of the Union address, in which U.S. President George W. Bush referred to Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as an "axis of evil," marked a pivotal moment in the post-9/11 geopolitical landscape. This rhetoric underscored a shift in U.S. foreign policy toward a more unilateral approach, emphasizing preemptive action against perceived threats. The designation contributed to heightened tensions with the named states, particularly Iraq, where the assertion of weapons of mass destruction ultimately led to the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. Although no such weapons were found, the war significantly altered regional dynamics, contributing to long-term instability in the Middle East. Relations with Iran and North Korea also deteriorated, with both nations intensifying their nuclear ambitions in defiance of international pressure. This address solidified the doctrine of preemptive strikes and reinforced U.S. efforts to combat global terrorism, shaping international relations and security policies for decades to come.

Notable Events

• January 29, 2015 - Malaysia officially declares the disappearance of flight MH370 an accident.

• January 29, 2018 - David Beckham launches Inter Miami CF, a Major League Soccer team based in Florida.

• January 29, 2024 - Elon Musk announces via Twitter that Neuralink has successfully implanted a "brain-reading" device into a person for the first time.

In partnership with Masters of Trivia 
Knowledge Gamified

Masters of Trivia is gearing up to launch its utility token soon. Register for a FREE player account now so as not to miss out!

A recent New York Weekly article featured Dom Einhorn’s attempt to “Revolutionize Quizzing and Hyper-Targeted Advertising.” For transparency, Intelligent Games is the parent company of both the KRONIKL newsletter and Masters of Trivia, the quiz platform linked to many topics featured in this newsletter. An excerpt of the article reads:

Einhorn points to the company’s slogan to explain the value of Masters of Trivia’s platform. “Our slogan is ‘Knowledge Gamified’ and not ‘Gamified Knowledge’ for a good reason,” he explains. “We aim to educate and inform first and foremost, but we also know that most people need to be deeply engaged in the learning process. Hence, we added a heavy dose of entertainment and incentives to the mix.”

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Echoes in Time

Here are two events from January 29 that continue to resonate in the present day.

1. Event: January 29, 1919 - The Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, instituting Prohibition, was ratified and took effect the following year.

Lasting Significance: The ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment, which introduced Prohibition in 1920, had profound and lasting effects on American society. Intended to curb alcohol consumption and its social harms, it instead fueled the growth of organized crime and illegal alcohol production. Speakeasies and bootlegging became widespread, challenging enforcement efforts and exposing governmental limitations. While alcohol use initially declined, the law faced growing public opposition, particularly during the economic struggles of the Great Depression. Prohibition was ultimately repealed in 1933 with the Twenty-first Amendment, leaving a legacy of unintended consequences and lessons about the challenges of regulating personal behavior.

2. Event: January 29, 1886 - German mechanical engineer Karl Benz secured a patent for the first practical automobile powered by an internal combustion engine.

Lasting Significance: Karl Benz’s patenting of the first practical automobile in 1886 marked a turning point in transportation and industrial history. It revolutionized mobility, enabling faster movement of people and goods and spurring economic growth. The invention laid the foundation for the modern automotive industry, influencing manufacturing practices and shaping infrastructure development. It also initiated long-term changes in energy use and environmental impact, with effects still felt today.

In the Spotlight

Birthdays, Passings & Milestones
Highlighting the influential figures who were born or died on this day, along with their legacies.

• January 29, 1860 - Anton Chekhov is born. Chekhov was a renowned Russian author and playwright, celebrated for his masterful short stories and innovative plays that emphasized character and mood over complex plots.

• January 29, 1595 - William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet is believed to have been first performed, with its official publication following in early 1597.

• January 29, 1907 - Republican Charles Curtis of Kansas becomes the first Native American to serve as a U.S. Senator.

Science & Discovery

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• January 29, 1896 - American physician Emile Grubbe became the first doctor to use radiation therapy to treat breast cancer.

• January 29, 1970 - The USSR conducts a nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeastern Kazakhstan.

• January 29, 1988 - Soyuz TM-27 was launched to the Mir space station.

• January 29, 2014 - Scientists discover a method to convert normal cells into stem cells in mice.

Today in Finance

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Curated reads and interesting tidbits from the world of finance.

• January 29, 1892 - The Coca-Cola Company is incorporated in Atlanta, Georgia.

• January 29, 1924 - Carl Taylor of Cleveland patented a machine for rolling ice cream cones.

• January 29, 1951 - Major League Baseball signed a six-year All-Star broadcast agreement, securing TV and radio rights for $6 million.

• January 29, 1964 - NBC acquired the television rights for the American Football League (AFL) for a five-year period (1965–1969) in a $36 million deal.

Today in Sports

Brought to you by The Hunslet Wolves, a new UK-based rugby franchise coached by the former defensive head coach of the French National Team, David Ellis.

• January 29, 1966 - Brazilian football legend Romário, one of the most prolific goal scorers in the history of the sport, is born in Rio de Janeiro.

• January 29, 1936 - Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb were among the inaugural players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

• January 29, 1900 - The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs is organized in Philadelphia.

• January 29, 1906 - Dutch speed skater Coen de Koning set a world record by skating 32,370 meters in one hour.

In the Arts Today

• January 29, 1964 - Stanley Kubrick's dark comedic masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, debuts in theaters, earning widespread critical and popular acclaim.

• January 29, 1860 - Russian author Anton Chekhov, renowned for his plays and short stories that often featured simple plots and open-ended resolutions, was born.

• January 29, 1845 - American author Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven was first published in the New York Mirror. A poignant exploration of lost love, it became one of the most celebrated works in American literature.

The Rest of the Story

• January 29, 1863 - The Bear River Massacre occurs as American soldiers kill hundreds of Native Americans at the confluence of the Bear River and Beaver Creek in present-day Idaho.

• January 29, 1976 - The IRA detonates bombs in London's West End, injuring one person.

• January 29, 1979 - Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping visits Washington, D.C., becoming the highest-ranking Chinese Communist Party official to make such a visit.

Quote of the Day

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Why KRONIKL? Inspired by the timeless concept of chronicles, KRONIKL is dedicated to bringing you the most intriguing, thought-provoking stories from this date. Culture, science, politics, and more — all condensed for a quick, insightful read that connects your present with our past.

*Disclosure: Masters of Trivia is a quiz platform founded by Dom Einhorn and owned by Intelligent Games LLC—the same company that brings you the KRONIKL newsletter.