The Year in Review
Yes, I know that 2025 is barely two weeks old, but world and national events have already provided us with enough news to comprise an entire ordinary year. These are some of the major events that have already occurred and that may presage an unprecedented year of chaos and outright insanity.
Trump Fiddles While L.A. Burns
The tragic fires in Los Angeles once again brings home the folly of climate change denial. While blaming the catastrophe on Democratic Governor Gavin Newson’s woke policies, Trump commented that the use of Mexican firefighters to help control the blaze “is just another ploy allowing illegal immigrants to invade the country.”
Clock Ticks Down on TikTok
The U.S. Supreme Court, during oral arguments on whether TikTok should be banned because the Chinese government’s control of TikTok owner ByteDance poses a threat to national security, seemed to lean towards upholding the ban. Justice Alito denied that the Court is conflicted in the case merely because the Justices’ performance of the Macarena on the site was widely panned.
Meta Announces That It Will Stop Outside Fact Checking
Meta Chief Mark Zuckerman announced that its popular apps, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, will no longer be reviewed for factual errors by a third party service. When asked whether the action was taken to gain favor with President-elect Trump, Zuckerman replied, “You’ll have to call Elon. He’s running the show.”
Chiefs and Lions Remain Super Bowl Favorites
As the NFL playoffs kick off (so to speak) , the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions remain the favorites to meet in Super Bowl LIX on February 9 in New Orleans. Kendrick Lamar will star in the halftime show, tentatively entitled “Gladiator II vs. Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Trump Sets Sights on Greenland
Trump renewed his first term promise to pursue the Danish-affiliated territory of Greenland and did not deny that he may use U.S. troops to achieve his goal if a negotiated deal fails. When told that the harsh climate of the world’s largest island is inhospitable to possible development of a Trump golf course, Trump replied: “we’re betting on climate change.”
Dylan Goes Electric
The James Mangold directed Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” reprises Dylan’s early days in New York culminating in his famous betrayal of his folkie followers when he played a loud electric set at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Timothee Chalamet performs a notable impression of Bob’s less than melodious voice. Dylan himself commented, “if only I really looked that good.”
Convicted Felon Becomes President
After the U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene, Justice Juan Merchan of the New York Supreme Court sentenced President-elect Trump to a no jail time unconditional release after his conviction for his pay-off to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claimed she had a sexual encounter with Trump, was upheld. The judge noted that the alleged tryst occurred while Trump’s third wife, Melania, was at home with the couple’s newborn son Barron and explained his leniency by saying that “hearing about it from Melania for the rest of his life will be punishment enough.”
Well, it has already been an amazing year, and there is plenty more to come. So hold onto your hats for a wild ride. And take the Lions with the points.
