Senate confirms Monica Bertagnolli as NIH director
The Senate confirmed Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to lead the National Institutes of Health in a 62-36 vote Tuesday. Nearly every Democrat joined 13 Republicans in filling the post responsible for overseeing billions in federal research grants, but vacant since Dr. Francis Collins left nearly two years ago. “Dr. Bertagnolli is the right person to ensure...
Can pasta tell the future? When it comes to The Pasta Tarot, maybe
What do the cards have in store? In the case of the Pasta Tarot, the answer is, very clearly, carbs. Created by Rob Truglia and Jeff Petriello, the Pasta Tarot — published by Penguin Random House in 2022 after first being self-published — is a celebration of the beloved primo piatto (the first course of a traditional Italian meal). And with its jub...
Adm. Lisa Franchetti Sworn In As 33rd CNO Of The U.S. Navy
The U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro swore in Admiral Lisa Franchetti as the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations at a small ceremony in the Pentagon, Nov. 2. “I am honored to have been confirmed as the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations, and am proud to serve alongside the Sailors and civilians that make up our Navy team,” Franchetti said. “I look...
IAP 300: our 300th episode!
8 years in the making, our 300th Episode is an uncut dive into the past, present, and future of our show, and the real-life friends behind it. We’re catching up and sharing stories from our times together beyond the podcast, giving you a glimpse “behind the green-white-and-red”, and letting the tangents do the talking as we discuss everything from...
NIAF’s official recognition as a non-governmental organization (NGO) at the UN
On the evening of November 1st, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations hosted a NIAF Welcome Reception to celebrate NIAF’s official recognition as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). NIAF is proud to be among the first Italian American org...
U.S. tourists, from 2025 no more visa to come to Europe
Starting in the spring of 2025, those traveling from the United States bound for most European Union and Schengen Area countries will no longer need to have visas printed in their passports, but will have to register online. Faces and fingerprints will be scanned and collected in a new digital registration system, Etias-an acronym that stands for E...
Sassy, Sentimental, & Radical Chic: From Italy to Philly, Santa Chiara's 'IMPORTED' Tells Stories of Love & Life
It’s a beautiful (and sometimes harrowing) longform love story; a tale only she could ever tell. A transatlantic romance, a new home, a new language, and a new identity: From native Italian to (unexpected) immigrant. The road was long, messy, and filled with twists and turns, but just as international borders couldn’t keep her from the one she love...
How to Enjoy Aperitivo Hour Like an Italian
Americans are a bit obsessed with Italy right now. The viral Negroni Sbagliato trend last summer and the ubiquity of the Aperol Spritz have helped fuel this fire, which means more and more Americans want to drink like they’re relaxing on the Amalfi coast. Right now, that means the demand for spritzes and Negronis is at an all-time high. The most pr...
For Italian-American Heritage Month: Baseball's Sal Maglie, the 'Demon Barber'
When Sal Maglie was finishing his two years, 1956-1957, with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he gave advice to his two future Hall of Fame teammates, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. Known around baseball as “The Barber,” Sal told the future greats: "Throw that second brushback pitch right away so the batter will know you meant the first one." Koufax and Drysd...
Big, Uncomplicated and Loud: My Italian American Family
While FDR had his fireside chats, I experienced porch side chats where I learned much about my heritage. It is well known that weekly Sunday suppers were a special time for large Italian families. It was a day of rest, except of course for Italian mothers — but they loved it, as they had an opportunity to enjoy the company of relatives and visiting...
Why You Need to Watch 'Italianamerican', Martin Scorsese's Forgotten Family Doc
Over the past seven decades, no one has explored the story of America in the 20th century quite like Martin Scorsese. The 80-year-old director's most recent films, The Irishman (2019) and Killers Of The Flower Moon, out this Friday, are big ticket affairs that ask even bigger questions about life, death and everything in-between. But 49 years ago,...
Italian Heritage Required Reading
As Italian Heritage Month draws to a close, I want to challenge everyone to continue to learn more about what makes us “Italian.” There are many great resources available. However, I want to urge you to read books about our heritage and history. Read stories about those who came before us. The sacrifices they made. All they accomplished. We need to...