Status Updates From Edison's Conquest of Mars

I'm so glad the Prince of Wales makes a toast in Washington DC at an event attended by all world leaders to say "I'm glad that it was at least a white guy who saved the world".

Wtf even is this. I stopped reading the 372 pages shelf after Murder in Christmas River last time, so while I've heard the episodes I've never actually read this one. Why is there a TITLE followed by 2-5 paragraphs constantly? I really fucking hope they never go back to the "wasn't late 19th century writing quirky" well again, I utterly loathe these. They aren't fun to me, they're just exhausting to read.

Is this the first appearance of American exceptionalism in print,?