2025 News Quiz: New Jersey Headlines, History, and Pop Culture Trivia

New Jersey Headlines and Politics

• 🎯 Governor-elect Mikey Sherrill will be sworn in as the new governor of New Jersey in early 2026, replacing Governor Phil Murphy.
• 🏟️ Both the New York Giants and Jets play their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
• 🏙️ James Solomon defeated Jim McGrevy to become the mayor of Jersey City, the second most populous city in New Jersey.
• 📍 Paterson is the third most populous city in New Jersey, followed by Lakewood.
• 🇺🇸 Andy Kim won the US Senate seat in New Jersey in 2024, becoming the first Korean-American elected to the US Senate.

Pop Culture and Entertainment

• 🎬 The movie The Devil Wears Prada 2 wrapped filming and is set to be released in early 2026, starring New Jersey natives Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.
• 🎶 The 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's classic album Born to Run was celebrated this year.
• 🎭 In the new Broadway musical Oh, Mary, actor Klescola plays a fictionalized version of Mary Todd Lincoln, with Jane Kaczmarek taking over the role.
• 🚢 The musical Titanique, based on the movie Titanic, is coming to Broadway, featuring a Celine Dion song.

Historical Milestones and Anniversaries

• 📜 The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), first introduced in 1923, was adopted by Congress in 1972, though its ratification is disputed.
• 📰 A significant anti-immigration law was passed in 1924, aimed at ending the Ellis Island era and restricting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, including Jewish immigrants.
• 🚢 The US Navy was the first military branch to officially allow women to serve during World War I, utilizing a loophole in the Naval Act of 1916.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The Chicago Society for Human Rights, founded in 1924, was inspired by the nascent gay rights movement in Germany.
• 🔬 The Pap test was invented a hundred years ago, significantly impacting cancer screening outcomes.
• 🏙️ The Chrysler Building was not yet built in 1925, making it missing from the Manhattan skyline view at that time.
• 📚 F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby celebrated its 100th anniversary this year.
• 🗣️ James Baldwin, born 100 years ago, was a prominent New Yorker whose voice was featured in a sound clip.
• 👴 Jimmy Carter, a former president, lived to see his 100th birthday and died one year ago today.
• ⚾ Yogi Berra, born Lawrence Peter Berra, was a sports giant who would have turned 100 this year, known for his malapropisms.

Sports and Events

• ⚾ The Subway Series is the term for when the Mets and Yankees play each other.
• ⚾ Pete Alonso, nicknamed "The Polar Bear," hit more home runs as a Met than any other player before signing with the Baltimore Orioles.
• 🏈 The Buffalo Bills are the only NFL team that plays its home games within New York State, while the Jets and Giants play in New Jersey.
• ⏳ The New York Jets have not made the playoffs in 15 years.
• ⚽ The World Cup will be hosted at MetLife Stadium next year.
• 🎤 Bad Bunny is the halftime show music superstar for the Super Bowl in February.
• 💍 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got engaged this year.