History Tap No. 10: October 8, 2026

Round 1: landmark

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

Built in Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, in 1922.

• The renovation engendered public intrigue after only a matter of days, as the coating began to peel and the Reflecting Pool sustained an algal bloom.
• Trump claimed that the pool was vandalized; but this was never substantiated.
• In 2026, the pool was resurfaced at the order of president Donald Trump with a blue polyurea coating, and a nanobubbler filtration system was added.

Round 2: landmark

San Francisco cable car system

Opened in San Francisco, California, in 1878.

• The San Francisco cable car system is the world's last manually operated cable car system and an icon of the city of San Francisco, California.
• While the cable cars are used to a certain extent by commuters, the vast majority of the millions of passengers who use the system every year are tourists, and as a result, the wait to get on can often reach two hours or more.
• Of the 23 cable car lines established between 1873 and 1890, only three remain (one of which combines parts of two earlier lines): two routes from downtown near Union Square to Fisherman's Wharf, and a third route along California Street.

Round 3: historic event, world

Battle of Fallujah

Happened in Iraq, on June 29, 2016.

• The operation began on 22 May 2016, three months after the Iraqi forces had started the total siege of Fallujah.
• Involved Iraq, Iran and Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

Round 4: pop culture

Super Bowl LIII halftime show

Happened in Georgia, on February 3, 2019.

• The show was universally panned by critics and audiences and is widely regarded to be one of the worst Super Bowl halftime shows of all time, with critics considering the show to be "boring" and "underwhelming".
• In response to the controversy, Travis Scott only agreed to participate if the NFL made a donation to a charity supporting social justice, and Maroon 5 later announced a similar donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
• It was headlined by Maroon 5, joined by rappers Big Boi and Travis Scott as guests.

Round 5: historic event, world

2009 North Korean nuclear test

Happened in North Korea, on May 25, 2009.

• A scientific paper later estimated the yield as 2.35 kilotons.
• It was widely believed that the test was conducted as a result of the succession crisis in the country.
• It is believed the North Koreans conducted the nuclear test to show that, even in a time of possible weakness, it did not intend to give up its nuclear weapons program.