5 months ago
Many of america whitethorn look backmost astatine 2025 arsenic a rollercoaster-ride of affirmative and antagonistic news. It surely feels for illustration a twelvemonth of upheaval successful governance, overseas policy, interpersonal relationships and authorities -- including an anti-immigration crackdown and unit deployments that roiled galore of our towns and courthouses.
The twelvemonth had its affirmative moments - successful sports, individual growth, and readying for our nation’s 250th day adjacent year. But it was besides a twelvemonth wherever bitterness and sick will translated into unit -- nan execution of Charlie Kirk arsenic he interacted pinch students; nan antisemitic panic onslaught connected a Hanukkah ceremony connected an Australian formation that killed 15 and injured dozens were conscionable 2 examples.
It was a twelvemonth erstwhile nan U.S. authorities knowledgeable its longest shutdown, acknowledgment to nan awesome governmental parties’ inability (or refusal) to scope consensus. And a twelvemonth erstwhile President Donald Trump (helped by Elon Musk) took a chainsaw to national jobs and agencies, and a wrecking shot to nan White House’s East Wing.
So really does our Editorial Board Roundtable position nan apical bully news and bad news stories of 2025?
Leila Atassi, head nationalist liking and advocacy:
America’s worst moments of 2025 came from cruelty calcifying into argumentation and unit — families torn isolated by migration raids, nationalist institutions hollowed out, civic spot further frayed. But location were flashes of good, too: nan nationwide No Kings protests and moments erstwhile our tribunal strategy and organization guardrails held nan line. The twelvemonth reminded america really vulnerable populist is — and really powerful dream tin be.
Ted Diadiun, columnist:
It’s difficult to prime conscionable 1 disturbing thing, truthful I’ll bookend nan year: The devastating California wildfires that began Jan. 7, destroying much than 16,000 structures and sidesplitting 29, and nan murderous onslaught against Jewish celebrants connected Dec. 14, nan first time of Hanukkah. Uplifting? Hard to find thing connected nan nationalist stage, truthful I’m going pinch nan commencement of our 5th grandchild, Jace Thomas, connected Dec. 2. Good luck, kid.
Thomas Suddes, editorial writer:
The champion news was nan predetermination of Cardinal Robert Prevost, O.S.A., arsenic Pope Leo XIV, not because he’s a North American, but because of his missionary work successful nan 3rd world’s Peru. It is successful nan 3rd world that Earth’s early will beryllium determined. The bad news was Donald J. Trump’s return to Pennsylvania Avenue because of nan administrative, managerial and argumentation chaos that ever follows successful his wake.
Eric Foster, columnist:
My apical bully news is nan communicative of Donell Stallworth and Charlie Hicks. Charlie, 78, ate nan aforesaid bid astatine nan Shrimp Basket successful Pensacola, Florida, doubly a day, each day, for 10 years. When Charlie missed respective days, Donell, nan chef, went to Charlie’s flat and discovered him lying connected nan floor, injured. Restaurant unit helped Charlie find a caller flat adjacent door to support an oculus out. Top bad news? Trump’s inauguration.
Victor Ruiz, editorial committee member:
There are galore affirmative stories to celebrate. However, nan chaos, dysfunction, and fearfulness fueled by Donald Trump and his followers overshadowed galore of them. During these holidays, galore people, sloppy of background, are suffering and facing an moreover worse 2026. With that said, location are still agleam spots worthy celebrating: respective high-profile Republican resignations, caller Democratic wins that propose momentum, and polling that indicates Amy Acton has a existent changeable astatine becoming Ohio’s adjacent governor. While I extremity 2025 pinch a pit successful my stomach, I genuinely americium hopeful that alteration is coming.
Mary Cay Doherty, editorial committee member:
In March 2025, led by authorities Sen. Jerry Cirino, Ohio laudably passed nan Advance Ohio Higher Education Act to protect and beforehand free speech, ideological diversity, and civilian sermon astatine authorities colleges and universities. Across nan state little than six months later, Charlie Kirk was assassinated connected a Utah field because he peacefully and civilly dared to workout his First Amendment rights. Free reside is governmental polarization’s antidote, misinformation’s sunshine, and democracy’s bedrock. Ideological diverseness should beryllium celebrated, not silenced.
Elizabeth Sullivan, sentiment director:
My very favourite news story: The well-deserved nickname for my workfellow Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com Indians/Guardians hit newsman since 1983, pinch news he’ll beryllium inducted into nan National Baseball Hall of Fame aft nan Baseball Writers’ Association of America awarded him their apical honor. 2025’s worst news: The Pentagon’s hideous compromising of our combatant forces successful its forbidden double-tap onslaught that killed shipwrecked survivors.
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* Email wide questions astir our editorial committee aliases comments aliases corrections connected this Editorial Board Roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, head of opinion, astatine [email protected]
