At Midnight, We Ride: A Mix of History & Headlines
From Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride to a "Call a Boomer" phone, here's a mix of history, headlines, and thoughtful conversation starters to ease into the weekend ...👇🏽
“So through the night rode Paul Revere;
And so through the night went his cry of alarm”
— Excerpt from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Paul Revere’s Ride”
This weekend marks the anniversary of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride and the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” And while Longfellow’s poem takes some liberties in its telling, the Paul Revere Memorial Association shares a more accurate account — drawn from Paul Revere’s own writings (see below for his deposition possibly written at the request of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress).
Credit: Massachusetts Historical Society
Did you know? Paul Revere wasn’t the only rider spreading the alarm that the “Regulars” were coming. And contrary to popular belief, the riders likely never shouted “The British are coming,” since many colonists still considered themselves British. The term “Regulars” referred to professional British soldiers — as opposed to local militias made up of everyday citizens.
🗣️ Your Conversation Starters:
💵 Tax Day: Everyone’s favorite unofficial holiday came and went this week (we joke). While the average refund increased a few hundred bucks from last year, some Americans describe it as more “blink and you’ll miss it” than a financial glow-up.
💰 Overcharged: This week, a jury found that Live Nation illegally monopolized the concert ticketing market and overcharged fans. Penalties remain TBD, and the company says it plans to challenge the ruling, adding, “The jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter.”
☎️ “Call a Boomer”: A payphone on Boston University's campus connects callers with residents at a senior living community in Reno, encouraging conversations across generations. Matter Neuroscience previously launched similar initiatives — including “Call a Republican” and “Call a Democrat” — aimed at sparking connection across divides.
🥤 Drink Wars: McDonald’s plans to roll out "dirty sodas" (sodas often mixed with cream), energy drinks, and other trendy beverages later this year. It appears the restaurant showed up late to the party, however, as other chains have already tapped into the growing demand for specialty drinks beyond coffee.
🦛 “Cocaine Hippos”: Colombia plans to euthanize an “invasive" population of hippos descended from ones smuggled into the country by drug trafficker Pablo Escobar in the 1980s, as officials work to control their numbers.
🪴 “Picasso of Plants”: Self-taught gardener Pearl Fryar passed away this month. Known for transforming ordinary shrubs into elaborate living sculptures, Fryar created an award-winning garden in South Carolina that visitors can still tour for free. Did you know? Topiary dates back to ancient Rome.
⛪️ Church & State: The dispute between Pope Leo and President Trump dominated headlines this week. Here’s a look at the history of popes weighing in on political issues.
🐌 Slow & Pink: A trail of pink snail sculptures inches toward a hotel set to host a Kentucky Derby Eve party, raising money for the Norton Cancer Institute Breast Health Program. The 152nd running of the famous race takes place May 2 — one expert reveals their top picks.
🏠 “Pleasant Surprise”: While researching London playhouses, a professor at King's College identified the home of William Shakespeare for the first time on a 1668 district map.
🇺🇸 “Defeat”: A history professor argues that losses helped shape George Washington’s leadership during the American Revolution, according to this Washington Post opinion piece.
🎙️ This Week From Jenna:
"The suburban dad next door who was also a serial killer"
A serial killer admits to his crimes, but is justice served?
We tackle that question and others in a wide-ranging conversation with investigative journalist Alexis Linkletter, who has covered this case for more than a decade and has poured several years into developing a podcast series on the mystery called, "Unraveled."
WATCH ABOVE OR BY CLICKING HERE. You can also listen on podcasting platforms everywhere (Apple, Spotify).
SCOOP (approx. 37 minutes) The Strait, Scandals and a Stunning Defeat. Watch or Listen. (SCOOP Insiders can attend this live broadcast once a week and get their news questions answered; they also receive the special video report EXCLUSIVELY delivered to their inbox along with a "cheat sheet" for the week ahead — learn more HERE).
🙌🏽 What We Found SmartHER This Week:
#ICYMI: A SmartHER teammate shared her favorite protein-boosting breakfast hack on Instagram stories this week using our favorite Our Place cookware ~ blend a couple spoonfuls of cottage cheese into scrambled eggs. 🍳
New to Our Place? This pot-and-pan duo is nearly 40% off at QVC and makes the perfect starter set! New customers can use code HELLO15 for an extra $15 off.
After Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride ... came the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”
On April 19, 1775, after receiving warnings from Paul Revere and other riders, colonial Minutemen exchanged gunfire with British troops for the first time.
About 700 British soldiers marched from Boston to seize colonial weapons, and the Minutemen met them at Lexington Green in Massachusetts, where the first shots rang out — though historians still debate who fired them. Fighting intensified at Concord’s North Bridge, where colonial forces pushed the British into retreat using guerrilla-style tactics.
In the end, 49 colonists and 73 British soldiers died. The American Revolution had begun.
P.S. We came across this fascinating piece from Time — The Last Witness to the Shot Heard ’Round the World — and think it’s worth a read.
And that's The Weekend Digest!
❤️,
Jenna and the SHN Team
Daily news, interviews, our latest podcasts and more at www.SmartHERNews.com.
