By Philip C. Johnson
December 31, 2025
It’s that time again. The time when I look back on the year that was and try to make some sense of it. From the halls of Washington to the battlefields of Eastern Europe and the Middle East, 2025 was marked by bold policy overhauls, tragic losses, and unexpected historical firsts. This retrospective highlights some of the events that I thought were pivotal—or at least interesting to me. And hopefully to you. Here’s a closer look at the stories that dominated headlines in the year 2025.
Trump’s Return to the White House and Sweeping Reforms
The year kicked off with Donald Trump’s second inauguration on January 20. The “Orange Man” was back and that meant a dramatic pivot in American governance. Trump wasted no time implementing his agenda, establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk’s leadership. This initiative led to the dismissal of over 260,000 federal employees and the dismantling of agencies like the Department of Education, aiming to streamline bureaucracy and cut costs. Proponents hailed it as a necessary purge of inefficiency, while critics decried it as a reckless assault on public services, sparking nationwide protests and legal battles that continue to unfold. From my view, it’s never a bad thing to trim the fat from a bloated government.
The New Orleans Bourbon Street Tragedy and Rising Global Terror Threats
Just one day into the new year, on January 1, terror struck New Orleans when an ISIS-inspired driver rammed into crowds on Bourbon Street, killing 14 and injuring 57 in one of the deadliest domestic attacks in recent memory. The incident reignited debates over national security and immigration, with investigations revealing the perpetrator’s ties to radical ideologies.
This theme of radical Islamic terrorism sadly repeated itself overseas on December 14, when two gunmen—a father and son motivated by Islamic State ideology—opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, killing 15 people, including children and a Holocaust survivor, in Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly 30 years and its worst terror attack ever. The attackers targeted a Jewish community event, blending antisemitism with Islamist extremism.
Ironically, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson stirred controversy late in the year by claiming in an interview that he doesn’t know “anyone in the United States in the last 24 years who’s been killed by radical Islam.” That statement drew sharp backlash, especially as these attacks underscored that the threat from radical Islam is very real—both here and abroad—and hasn’t gone away post-9/11. I will spare you a full list of the many Americans killed by this muscular ideology over the last 24 years. But it has been a lot. Downplaying Islamist terrorism doesn’t make the danger disappear—events like New Orleans and Bondi prove it’s still a clear and present threat.
Aviation Safety in the Spotlight: The Potomac Collision
Aviation safety became a national priority following the harrowing mid-air collision over the Potomac River on January 29. An American Airlines jet struck a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., resulting in the deaths of all 67 people aboard. This disaster, part of a string of incidents, prompted bipartisan legislation to enhance air traffic protocols and drone regulations, though experts warn that implementation could take years to fully mitigate risks. As someone who flies a lot for my job—and even as someone who firmly believes in God’s sovereign control—scenes like this are not helpful to me in the least.
The Immigration Overhaul and Lingering Tensions
Trump’s administration escalated immigration enforcement in 2025, ramping up ICE operations, establishing new detainment centers, and deporting individuals to third countries. Don’t like your country of origin? How about South Sudan? Uganda? Rwanda? These moves triggered widespread protests and viral footage of arrests, polarizing the nation further. Adding fuel to the fire were ongoing fraud scandals in Minnesota, home to one of the largest Somali populations in the U.S., where federal probes uncovered massive schemes in child care and social aid programs, often involving Somali immigrants. These cases, which bilked taxpayers out of billions during the pandemic era, have aggravated public frustration with illegal immigration. Some of that money allegedly ended up back in Somalia and in the hands of terror organization al-Shabaab.
Looking back, the Biden administration’s policies set the stage for this mess. From 2021 to early 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded over 10 million migrant encounters at the southern border, with estimates of at least 1.5 million “gotaways” who evaded detection. That’s a staggering number—coming from more than 160 different countries, not just our neighbors to the south, but places like China, India, and even nations with known terrorist hotbeds like Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and Yemen. This global influx created massive security headaches: a record 394 individuals on the terrorist watchlist were apprehended at the border since 2021, way up from previous years. We’re talking potential terrorists slipping through, plus the fentanyl crisis exploding with over 100,000 overdose deaths a year, much of it smuggled across that porous border. And don’t get me started on crimes by illegal immigrants, like the heartbreaking murders we’ve seen in the news—real threats to American families.
Of course, the counter argument is that these are mostly desperate people fleeing poverty, violence, or persecution, and that America has a moral obligation to offer asylum and humanitarian aid. Fair point—they’re human beings, after all. But without proper vetting and control, we’re inviting chaos, draining resources, and risking national security. It’s not compassionate to ignore the dangers; it’s reckless. Trump’s crackdown is a welcome reset, even if it ruffles feathers.
Advancements in Agentic AI: Promise and Peril
2025 was the year AI evolved from chatbots to agentic AI—systems that act independently, setting goals, planning steps, and using tools like web browsing or coding to complete tasks without constant human input. Companies like OpenAI and Google released these agents, boosting productivity in business and research. But debates raged over hype vs. reality, job losses, safety risks (what if they malfunction?), and ethics. While many see the innovation potential, the question is, “can we keep it controlled?” It’s truly game-changing tech. P.S. We’re probably not going to be able to keep it under control.
Cease-Fire in Gaza Amid Accusations of Genocide
October brought a U.S.-brokered cease-fire to the Gaza conflict after months of devastation, with over 65,000 reported deaths. (Hamas numbers) A UN commission concluded in September that Israel had committed genocide, a finding that sparked global protests but was vehemently rejected by Israel and its allies. Israel maintains that its actions were defensive military operations aimed at dismantling Hamas, not targeting civilians en masse—much like how the U.S. was not accused of genocide for the bombings of Dresden or Hiroshima during World War II, which were seen as necessary to end broader threats despite massive civilian casualties. Supporters argue the intent was security, not extermination, though the debate rages on in international courts. Critics on the left call it disproportionate, emphasizing Palestinian suffering, but context matters—Hamas started this with barbaric attacks, and Israel has a right to defend itself.
Escalation and Stalemate in the Russia-Ukraine War
The Russia-Ukraine conflict intensified in 2025, with Russia gaining territory amid heavy losses. The U.S. offered a 15-year security guarantee to Ukraine but paused some arms, pushing for peace. As December ends, Russian advances grind on, with experts eyeing a 2026 stalemate. Talks between Trump and Zelenskyy suggest a deal, but Russia balks at U.S. plans, hinting at the need for a neutral broker. A frozen conflict or partition looms, though mid-2026 optimism persists. One of the dark ironies of the situation is Germany’s massive military buildup in 2025. As a good friend of mine recently joked, “Germany is looking around and asking the rest of Europe if they are understanding correctly: You want us to build a strong army, go through Poland to fight the Russians? Because, you know, we did this before and…” I say wrap it up—war helps nobody.
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk
Political violence hit home on September 10 when conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a university event in Utah, underscoring America’s deepening divides. The tragedy quickly spawned conspiracy theories, amplified by figures like Candace Owens, who has persistently questioned the official narrative, suggesting hidden motives and drawing ire from Kirk’s widow and MAGA allies. Owens went further with wild accusations, claiming involvement by the French government (including President Macron and ties to the French Foreign Legion where the alleged assassin supposedly trained), the U.S. government, Israeli Mossad, and even TPUSA itself—implying internal betrayals or cover-ups. These theories, often laced with antisemitic undertones and gnostic elements, continue to dominate online discourse, complicating the investigation and fueling further polarization.
The Audacious Louvre Jewel Heist
To conclude our whirlwind look back at 2025, I point to a lighter, yet audacious headline. October 19 saw thieves pull off a $100 million jewel heist at the Louvre in Paris, snatching priceless Napoleonic-era crown jewels. In their hasty getaway, they dropped the Crown of Empress Eugénie—a stunning piece of gold, emeralds, and more than 1,300 diamonds—leaving behind DNA clues that led to eventual arrests. The brazen crime, which took seven minutes captured global imagination, blending high-stakes drama with cultural commentary on security in iconic institutions. On a personal note, I’ve visited the Louvre countless times and have thus far, taken nothing from the French treasure trove. Hey, in a year full of heavy news, at least this one ended with the bad guys caught—proof that not every story is doom and gloom.
So, what’s your take on 2025? Which headline did I miss that you would have included? Share in the comments!
Happy New Year to all of my readers! Thank you for support–and for bothering to read my musings. I greatly appreciate you all!
The Global Nexter 
Happy New Year!!!Sent from my iPhone