Freedom Takes Flight & Female Trailblazers
A special exhibition to mark America’s 250th birthday comes to a town near you. Plus, keep scrolling for stories on two trailblazing women. But first, a step back in time ... 👇🏽
In 1876, the United States celebrated 100 years of independence with the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, where the Declaration of Independence went on display at Independence Hall for six months.
Then, in 1976, the American Freedom Train traveled across the country carrying more than 500 artifacts from the nation's 200-year history.
And now, to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, some of the nation’s founding documents take to the skies for a special tour — including George Washington’s Oath of Allegiance and a rare draft of the U.S. Constitution, complete with handwritten notes made by delegates during the Constitutional Convention.
Check out the details and find an exhibition near you HERE.
Credit: National Archives
🗣️ Your Conversation Starters:
🌳 Exploding Trees: The warning issued to some regions ahead of this weekend’s arctic blast and winter storm.
😎 MACRONonomics: French President Emmanuel Macron’s sunnies didn’t just make headlines this week — they also boosted the stock of the nearly 100-year-old sunglasses maker behind them.
😷 “Year of Measles”: How one doctor categorizes 2025, as the U.S. recorded the most measles cases in 34 years. Measles cases in South Carolina continue to increase.
👖 Sheer Oversight: Lululemon pulls a new line of leggings after customers complained they were see-through. Bottom line (no pun intended 🤭): do not get low in the "Get Low" collection.
🤖 AI-Proof? While job loss in the wake of AI dominates conversations, this 200-year-old company faces a shortage of master engravers that can’t be replaced by artificial intelligence. P.S. Did you catch Elon’s AI predictions at the World Economic Forum? 👇🏽
🐮 Scratching an Itch: Veronika the cow becomes the first documented case of a cow using a tool, though scientists debate what it means. Either way, she looks cute.
Credit: Antonio J Osuna Mascaró / Washington Post
🧠 SHIELD: Not the Marvel agents — rather, the acronym one Harvard brain expert uses describes for keeping your brain healthy: Sleep, Handling stress ... can you guess the others?
👴🏼 Generational Divide: As members of Congress head into reelection, a look at the third-oldest Congress — and which of its oldest members still don’t plan to retire. Meanwhile, Dame Prue Leith exits “The Great British Bake Off,” saying, “I’m 86 for goodness’ sake!”
📱 Messages Unsealed: We're learning more about the legal drama between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. A deposition unsealed this week revealed text messages between Lively, other crew members and Taylor Swift. 👀
🎙️ This Week From Jenna:
Your cheat sheet on the President's remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland - from secret weapons to the American housing market. ⬇️
WATCH ABOVE OR BY CLICKING HERE. You can also listen on podcasting platforms everywhere (Apple, Spotify).
🎙️ SCOOP (approx. 62 minutes) Geomagnetic Storms to Greenland Ambitions: A Year in Review. 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:
Sunday marks 136 years since trailblazing female journalist Nellie Bly completed her trip around the world — with just one navy blue dress and a small bag. One of the few things she packed? “A jar of cold cream to keep my face from chapping in the varied climates I should encounter.”
Girl, we GET IT. And this one? Our ride-or-die for the cold weather we’re experiencing. Use code SMARTHER for 25% off, plus
Plus, get free gifts on all orders $99+.
"A Pioneering Leader":
Speaking of trailblazing women, NASA announced the retirement of astronaut Suni Williams this week. Did you know? Suni logged 62 hours + 6 minutes on spacewalks over her 27 years of service — the most of any female astronaut and fourth overall
And that's The Weekend Digest!
❤️,
Jenna and the SHN Team
Daily news, interviews, our latest podcasts and more at www.SmartHERNews.com.
