Will there be trash cans in 2025?
We approach the end with equal parts relief and anxiety. Surely we can’t hope to endure such a turbulent rotation of the sun again?
It was in January that Donald was clearly walking into a wall. He will do so within a few weeks. Start planning. ;and , , .
As a test case for strengthening higher education by spring. By June, President Trump had enacted legislation giving $1 trillion in funding (and military power) to essentially target almost the “worst of the worst.”
With the arrival of the Caribbean in the fall and winter, President Trump will be at an even greater disadvantage due to Congressional inaction on the health care front.
That’s the short list.
This is the year America tried something new, and while we may celebrate much of it, columnists have a different perspective.
Here, they reflect on the past year and offer some thoughts on what the new year will bring.
Cabria: Well, that was something. I can’t say that 2025 will be a great year for the American experiment, but it will definitely go down in history.
Before I get into pure politics, I’d like to start on a positive note. At the No Kings rally in Sacramento, I met a couple inspired by , an activist wearing an inflatable amphibious suit.
When I asked him why, he said, “If we don’t do something soon, democracy will disappear.”
I love that so many Americans are coming together and doing something to support democracy through policies that affect them personally, but in a big way. For many, it was the first time they had taken such action, but they did so in a way that expressed optimism and possibility rather than giving in to anger or despair. Where there is humor, there is hope.
Barabaku:Does it only hurt when you laugh?
In 2024, in the White House — mainly hoping he would lower the cost of living and make eggs and gasoline affordable again.
While eggs and gas are no longer prohibitively expensive, the cost of almost everything else continues to rise. Or, if , , , it will rise sharply.
Meanwhile, the president seems more interested in smearing his name on everything he sees than improving the lives of his constituents, and one of the latest examples is the performing arts.
(The only place Trump is I don’t I’d like to see his name in it. )
Why stop there? What if we branded these as Trump-Erica’s America and boasted that we live in the “hottest” country on the Trump planet?
cabria: Stop giving him ideas!
You and I agree that this has been a difficult year full of absurdities, but we disagree on how seriously we should take President Trump as a threat to democracy. As the end of the year approaches, anxiety is at an all-time high.
That’s not what I’m concerned about, it’s the disastrous policy that would be difficult to undo if given the chance.
A witch-hunt of deportation based on race is clearly at the top of that list, but as a nation. increasing; quietly placing election deniers in key election posts; all of these are the hammer that will crush our democracy;
Now we have established MAGA rights, which have been incredibly well received by many. The far right has defended the stupid and horrifying argument that we are somehow superior to non-white people.
Vice President J.D. Vance recently said, “In the United States of America, we no longer have to apologize for being white,” and President Trump has said he wants to start doing that. Both argue that America is a Christian nation that eschews diversity as a value system.
Do you still think American democracy is safe and that this political moment will pass without lasting damage to democratic norms?
Barabaku: First, let’s start with differentiation.
I agree that President Trump is planting seeds, and more specifically, enacting policies and programs that will germinate and cause damage for years to come.
his bigoted anti-immigrant policies that go far beyond reasonable border enforcement have starved science and other research programs. As you suggest, the list is long and depressing.
But I believe that nothing can be solved beyond the power of the voters, following the signals of the trumpets and angels.
In my words, there is no creature on earth more sensitive to heat and light than politicians. We’ve already seen elections in red and blue states alike in this year’s series of elections. A strong repudiation of the 2026 midterm elections will have more effect than all the editorial debunking and protest marches combined. (This doesn’t mean either is bad.)
The best way to preserve our democracy and protect American values is for unhappy citizens to register their dissent through the ballot box. And to answer at least one of your concerns, I’m not too worried about Trump somehow invalidating the results, given the legal checks and decentralization of the electoral system.
Installing members of Congress tasked with holding Trump accountable would be a good start to repairing at least some of the damage he has caused. And if it turns out to be a rout for the Republican Party, it will be quite possible to see the president’s former allies sprinting for the hills on weak knees.
cabria: oh my god! It’s a holiday miracle. We agree!
The midterm elections will be chaotic, but I don’t think they’ll be the kind of elections where President Trump or anyone else will blatantly try to undo the overall results.
I suspect, however, that the groundwork will be laid to sow further doubts about the integrity of our elections heading into 2028, leading to false claims of fraud and lawsuits.
So if the Democrats seize some control, there’s a good chance the midterm elections will be reset. It will probably never repair the damage of the past, but there may be enough opposition to slow down what is happening now and provide transparency and oversight.
But the 2026 election only matters if people vote, and historically many people don’t vote in midterm elections. At this point, there are probably very few people who haven’t heard of the November stakes, but that doesn’t stop the lazy, busy, and distracted from forming an opinion.
Proposed restrictions on mail-in voting and voter identification, even in some states, could change the outcome.
But there is hope, there is always hope.
Barabaku: With that in mind, let’s recognize some of the many good things that happened in 2025.
Mackenzie Scott has donated $700 million to more than a dozen historically black universities, showing that not all tech billionaires are selfish and mean.
Dodgers and San Francisco Giants fans weren’t happy, but a thrilling seven-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays was the World Series forever.
And January’s Southern California firestorm was spectacular.
Is there anyone else worthy of admiration other than the dinosaur doing your demonstration?
cabria: I’m not a Catholic, but I’ve been incredibly inspired by it.
Therefore, I would like to leave behind these words for the future: “Become an agent of fellowship who can break through the logic of division and polarization, individualism and egocentrism.”
Many of us are tired and suffering from Trump fatigue. In any case, in non-Pope terms, it may be trash, but we’re all in this together.
Barabaku: As I do every year, I would like to end by expressing my gratitude to all my readers.
Anita and I won’t be here – that will make some people very happy – but for you. (And a special nod: You help keep the lights on.)
I wish you all a happy, healthy, and fruitful New Year.
See you again in 2026.
