Final Jeopardy: Political History (9-22-25)
The Final Jeopardy question (9/22/2025) in the category “Political History” was:
The words of this doctrine are found in a sonnet by James I & bolstered by St. Paul writing, “the powers that be are ordained by God”
New champ Steven Olson, a band director from Princeton, IL, won $19,602 last Friday. In Game 2, he’s up against: David Shutoff, a product development manager from Salem, MA; and Jonathan Goldman, a futures trader from Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
Round 1 Categories: King James Bible Talk – Eponyms – Hobbies & Pastimes – The Traitors – Project Runway – A Dose of Reality TV
Steven found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “King James Bible Talk” under the $800 clue on the 10th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $2,600, $1,400 more than David in second place. Steven made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT.
The KJV loves this synonym for “strike” or “bash”, as in “thou shalt” do this to “the rock, and there shall come water out of it” show
Steven finished in the lead with $10,200. David was second with $3,000 and Jonathan was last with $2,200. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: “Cross” Words (& Phrases) – Physics Class – Dis-band-ments – In the Bookstore – Asian Cities – Ari Shapiro on Talking & Listening
Steven found the first Daily Double in “Asian Cities” under the $1,600 clue on the 6th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $15,000 now, $10,000 more than David in second place. Steven bet $7,000 but had no guess so he was WRONG.
This Lebanese city was created when 3 sections settled by people from Tyre, Sidon & Arvad merged into one city show
Steven got the last Daily Double in “‘Cross’Words (& Phrases)” under the $1,200 clue on the 13th pick of the round. In the lead with $10,800, he had $3,400 more than David in second place. Steven bet $4,000 and, this time, he was RIGHT.
This act by Julius Caesar in 49 B.C. led to war against Pompey & the Senate show
Steven finished in the lead with $20,400. David was second with $13,400 and Jonathan was last with $7,400. All clues were shown.
Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS THE DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS?
The Divine Right of Kings is a political and religious doctrine that actually can be traced back to I Samuel in the Bible. In response to the Israelites’ demand, God sent Saul to the prophet Samuel to be anointed king.
Ed Gaskin’s essay on Divine Right of Kings lists the many scriptural references that support this doctrine, including Paul’s letter to the Romans, wherein he says that rebelling against governing authority is rebelling against God. “European monarchs,” he writes, “sought religious justification to consolidate their rule and assert absolute authority to restore order and stability.” James VI of Scotland and I of England was one such monarch, as was France’s Sun King, Louis XIV.
Jonathan only had the word “divine”. With a zero bet, he didn’t lose a shekel and his score remained $7,400.
David went with the Monroe Doctrine. That cost $7,001 and left him with $6,399.
Steven got it right. He bet $6,404 and won the game with $26,804. Steven’s 2-day total is $46,406.
A triple stumper from each round:
IN THE BOOKSTORE ($2000) This author of “Lincoln in the Bardo” offers a course on Russian short stories in his book “A Swim in the Pond in the Rain”
ARI SHAPIRO ON TALKING & LISTENING ($2000) Ari Shapiro: “For about a quarter century, I’ve been talking to this legal journalist; I interned for her in my first journalism job, & now I throw to her as I host “All Things Considered”
2 years ago: ALL of the players got this FJ in “SCIENTISTS”
A 1953 article by this pair says, “The specific pairing we have postulated… suggests a… copying mechanism for the genetic material” show
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1/3 on DD and missed FJ. Not one of my best outings!
Not one of my better nights. First DD was cake, probably would have gotten the 3rd if Mr. “What’s?” hadn’t responded so quickly. That $7K DD wager could conceivably have cost him the game. Blanked on FJ but should have known it; I’ve used that phrase many times in the past eight months. Only stumper I knew was the NBC competition series.
It was funny when Ken pronounced Snookie as if it rhymes with spooky. It rhymes with cookie.
How kooky