Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for January 28, 2026
The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
January 28, 2026: One hundred and eleven (111) years ago, on January 28, 191,5 the William P. Frye, an American merchant ship, was destroyed by the Germans. The ship, carrying wheat for England, was intercepted by the Germans off the coast of Brazil. The German military demanded that the Americans release the cargo as “contraband” within 24 hours. The Americans on the ship did not follow the orders, causing the Germans to destroy the William P. Frye. This was the first time that an American ship would be destroyed by the Germans before the U.S. involvement in World War I. The destruction caused by the German military raised tensions between the two nations and left many Americans furious.
Scott Rasmussen is the president of RMG Research, Inc. and founder of the Napolitan Institute.
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology.
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