Hi, everyone. This is a first for Smarter News. I'm recording from inside a former asylum for women

in Philadelphia, one of America's most historic cities. And I'm excited to share a little bit of the

history of the place where I'm reporting from with you and talk to you a little bit about a story

that we've been following this week

related to presidential gifting.

And yes, this is our anything about politics segment, but periodically we're going to use a dash of politics to talk about something else, provide a little bit more context. And that's what I want to do today because we're still in the midst of this

developing story of President Trump's first major international trip of his second term as president.

So I'm going to put that aside for just a second. Let me just tell you a little bit about where I

am because this place is such an interesting backstory that

I stumbled upon by accident. But I was in a situation where I had to figure out where it's safe

for just one night in Philadelphia. And a friend recommended this place called the Anna and Bell

hotel in a neighborhood that I had never been, a neighborhood called Fishtown. And as I peeled

back a little bit of the story related to this hotel, I just knew I had to share it with you.

So where I am sitting right now has been a site that's been used for hundreds of years before even the American Revolution.

So let's talk a little bit about Fishtown.

Fishtown and where I'm sitting is about a 45 minute walk to the Liberty Bell.

So to where all the action took place around the

American Revolution, where I am here is right alongside the Delaware River. This was a bustling

fishing area, and this house was known as the mansion house, but it quickly turned into a place

for poor widows and poor single women.

And it was known as a place that was providing health care and social services for women in this category.

It then quickly turned into a retirement home in the neighborhood that was well known and is described as well loved for 150 years

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