Hello readers. Kathryn Palmer here. Happy New Year's Eve! It's the very last On Politics newsletter of 2025, so I've compiled some of the most surprising, bizarre and otherwise memorable political moments of the year. It's not an exhaustive list by any means, nor is it a list of the most impactful or controversial political events of the year (of which there were many). Rather, I bring you a randomized list of eight politics stories that stood out to me and some of my USA TODAY colleagues, as we close out 2025. |
1. Trump shares AI images and videos |
The president, as active as ever on social media, took to posting AI-generated media. The posts include videos of an imaginary Trump Gaza luxury resort, and of him dropping apparent excrement on "No Kings" protesters from a plane. He also shared AI images of himself as the pope and a deepfake of former President Barack Obama being arrested. |
2. Man hurls sandwich at ICE agent & goes viral |
When a man threw a sub sandwich at a Customs and Border Patrol agent in the nation's capital in August, video of the incident spread rapidly online. The August confrontation inspired public art , birthed many memes, lost the man his federal job, and led authorities to try to charge him for assault (though that effort failed). | Demonstrators hold a banner showing a masked protester throwing a sandwich at the "We Are All DC" march on Sept. 6, 2025. Leah Millis, REUTERS |
3. Trump threatens to take over Greenland, again |
Trump floated buying Greenland during his first term and revived the idea in 2025. He declined to rule out using military force to take over the island in May, and in December named Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland. The island, a Danish territory, is notably not for sale. |
4. Pentagon chief tells generals to lose weight |
At a last-minute meeting gathering hundreds of the nation's top military leaders from across the world, Pete Hegseth lambasted "decades of decay" at the Pentagon and announced new fitness requirements, among other new policies. "It's completely unacceptable to see fat admirals and generals in the halls of the Pentagon," he said. | Military members before Trump addresses those gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, on Sept. 30, 2025. Jim Watson, AFP via Getty Images |
5. Trump goes on a renaming spree |
6. ...and on a White House renovation spree | The demolition of the East Wing of the White House, the location of President Donald Trump's proposed ballroom is seen from an elevated position on the North side of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 23, 2025. Andrew Leyden, REUTERS |
7. California's Gavin Newsom becomes troller-in-chief |
They say imitation is a form of flattery, but California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's mocking posts of Trump are a clear exception to that expression. The governor's social media account went viral – many times over – by mimicking Trump's bombastic style and criticizing his policies, along with those of Vice President JD Vance. |
8. Katy Perry is dating former Canadian PM |
Some couples go Instagram official. Others, like pop star Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, go Instagram official only after a former Japanese prime minister spills the beans about their relationship by posting a photo with the pair. | | From bourbon-less cocktails to Brazilian coffee, Trump's tariffs stirred tensions among U.S. friends, foes. Is relief coming via $2,000 rebate checks? | | Numbers from the Office of Personnel Management give a glimpse into how much the federal government has already changed its workforce. | | | | The Trump administration is exploring the denaturalization of Somali-Americans in Minnesota convicted of fraud, the White House press secretary said. | | | | The Trump administration froze federal childcare funding to the state in the wake of a viral video from a conservative influencer alleging daycare fraud. | | | | At least 18 states will implement changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the new year. Five of them face changes on Jan. 1. | | | | | Sign up for the news you want | Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don't miss out! We're always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. | | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment