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Good morning! It's Sunday, Sept. 6, and welcome to our Sunday edition. Tomorrow is Labor Day, so today we're surfacing the origins and impact of the labor unions in the US. Keep reading to meet Apple's new CEO (News in Context), the best public school systems (Civics), why we love chocolate (Etc.), and much more.
📖 Our Sunday edition digs deep into the context and rabbit holes behind the news. We'll be back with our regular Daily Digest tomorrow through Saturday.
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Collective Bargaining
Although they're best known for bringing us the weekend, labor unions help workers organize their efforts so they can negotiate as a single entity rather than as individuals (see video overview). Workers in a particular industry, trade, or company form labor unions to improve aspects of their working conditions, such as pay or benefits.
> Learn about the history of Labor Day in the United States. (More, w/video)
> See the US industries with the highest union membership rates. (More, w/visual)
The first US union was created in 1794, when cobblers in Philadelphia formed the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers. Anti-union actions from the US government continued for decades until the Great Depression, when the National Labor Relations Act granted workers the right to form unions and strike.
> The first recorded worker strike in the United States predates the American Revolution. (More)
> With the help of a photographer, child labor in the US was eventually restricted by law in the mid-1900s. (More, w/video)
> See where the US ranked in annual working hours per worker among major countries over time. (More, w/chart)
Roughly 10% of US wage and salary workers were union members in 2023, down from around 20% in 1983. Critics of labor unions argue that unions not only make it more difficult to discipline low performers but also drive up labor costs. Union advocates, however, believe unions are an important tool for increasing workers' pay and benefits.
> In 2024, US union membership by percentage of the workforce was the lowest in nearly 40 years. (More)
> Explore the pros and cons of forming a union. (More)
Discover more:
> Supervisors are legally prohibited from joining unions. (More)
> Explore the most common jobs for Americans, broken down by age and gender. (More)
> See the percentage of employed workers who are union members in your state. (More)
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News in Context
1440 brings you the knowledge and context behind the week's stories:
John Ternus took over as CEO of Apple, succeeding Tim Cook after 15 years at the helm of the roughly $4.6T tech giant. (More)
> See which Apple products drive the most of its $416B revenue.
> Explore the evolution of the iPhone.
A jury found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur. (More)
> Explore a list of hip-hop's all-time greatest diss tracks.
> Hip-hop lyrics are often used in criminal trials in a controversial practice that blurs the line between art and evidence.
Flooding in the Grand Canyon left at least two dead, with one still missing. (More, w/video)
> In the US, flash floods kill more people than tornadoes, hurricanes, and lightning.
> People spent more than a billion hours visiting national park sites in 2025.
The NFL season kicks off later this week as the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots on Wednesday at 8:20 pm ET. (More, w/week one schedule)
> In 2025, NFL teams were worth a total of $228B, making it the most valuable sports league in the world.
> Fantasy sports' roots go back to an 1860s parlor game that simulated real-world baseball.
1440 Civics
For the 2023-24 school year, spending on K-12 public education in the US totaled roughly $880B. A combination of local property taxes, state revenue, and federal grant funds covers these expenses.
> See where your state ranks in an analysis of the best public school systems in the US. (More)
> Find out what portion of public school funding in your state comes from the federal government. (More)
... and visualize the evolution of the federal government's role in American education. (More)
> Explore teacher salaries in your state and how that compares to the rest of the country. (More)
Want more? Explore hundreds of our favorite Civics-related resources.
🇩🇪 Why Germany Is Rearming
For decades after World War II, Germany kept its military ambitions in check. Now, it's undertaking a historic military buildup. 1440's Jeremy Cronig explains what changed—and what Germany's rearmament could mean for Europe. Watch here or click below:
In partnership with ZBiotics
Your Night's First Good Decision
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Etcetera
Social media interactions sometimes mimic the unpredictability and anticipation of using a slot machine.
Watch the first appearance of "Looney Tunes" characters Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner.
Explore Lewis and Clark's 8,000-mile journey in Google Earth.
Bedbug issues are increasing—learn what to do about them.
Read the Forbes 30 Under 30 Hall of Shame, a list of dubious people the publication honored before their wrongdoings were revealed.
Some GLP-1s may weaken the effectiveness of birth control and affect the absorption of other medications.
🫶 Humankind: See photos of a 91-year-old reclaiming his record as the oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail.
Scientists have better identified why humans love chocolate by pinpointing microbial groups associated with distinct flavors.
The first combat-deployed submarine vessel debuted during the American Revolution.
The richest countries in the world by GDP per capita.
Avocado flowers switch between female and male phases, opening at different times to receive and release pollen.
In partnership: Football and cozy wine nights are back—this pre-alcohol probiotic is a must-have this season.*
See a breakdown of your state's share of the entire US economy.
Every Swiss resident is entitled to a spot in a nuclear fallout shelter.
Historybook: Magellan’s ship Victoria completes circumnavigation of the globe (1522); Social work pioneer Jane Addams born (1860); Munich massacre takes place at Munich Olympic Games; 11 Israeli athletes and coaches killed by terrorist group (1972); Idris Elba born (1972); Actor Burt Reynolds dies (2018).
*Please support our sponsors.
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— Jane Addams
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