Well, 2026, it’s been quite the ride. Sure, we’re only eight days in, but I think we can all agree that now is the time for reflection and officially pinning all of our hopes on 2027. Join us for a look back at the appalling events of this already long and tumultuous year.
A Promising Start: Mamdami Takes Office
Admittedly, 2026 was off to a good start. Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the mayor of New York City at the stroke of midnight on January 1st. For a fleeting moment, the millions desperate for a reprieve from the nation’s affordability crisis experienced a spark of joy before everything went tits up.
US Attacks Venezuela
While most of us were still nursing hangovers, US military forces bombed the Venezuelan capital and abducted its head of state. This flagrant breach of international law didn’t just plunge the region into chaos; it effectively signaled the collapse of a post-WWII global order and obliterated any hope of a dry January.
Annexation of Greenland
As if violating the sovereignty of one nation wasn’t enough, the Trump Administration immediately turned its male gaze toward Greenland, drawing further international condemnation for threatening to seize the autonomous Danish territory by force. Really kills your motivation to get those 10k steps a day in.
PBS and NPR Defunded
The nonprofit responsible for over half a century of public broadcasting in the US was permanently dissolved this week. Without government funding, the future of beloved institutions like PBS and NPR (and the free press they represent) is now in grave peril. Tiny Desk Concerts will certainly hit different with all of the ICE recruitment ads they’ll need to run.
Preventable Diseases on the Rise
Remember when the CDC gutted its guidance on childhood vaccinations, slashing the immunization schedule just as diseases once considered “eliminated” began reaching epidemic proportions nationwide. Yeah, a few days ago was a crazy time.
Fifth Anniversary of Capitol Riot
Five years after a violent mob stormed the US Capitol on January 6th, we were forced to relive the trauma, reminding us not only of the fragile foundations of our democracy but also the gross miscarriage of justice for those responsible.
ICE Executes Unarmed Citizen
More than 2,000 federal agents surged into Minneapolis, terrorizing local communities in raids that resulted in the tragic death of Renee Good, a legal citizen and mother who, by all appearances, was gunned down while attempting to flee a nightmarish situation.
Devastating Strike on Kyiv
We witnessed a major escalation in the war against Ukraine as Russia unleashed an estimated 500 drones and 40 missiles on the capital — one of the largest attacks in months. That was actually two weeks ago, so technically the end of 2025, but the fallout will continue to bleed into this year and probably many more to come!
Trump Withdraws the U.S. from 66 International Organizations and Treaties
Just in case there was a single citizen of the world who didn’t get the message “We’re the main villain now” loud and clear, Trump decided to end the U.S’s cooperation in efforts to, among other things, stop the earth from dying.
On the plus side, we have plenty of time to plan and make 2027 our year! You know, if we survive.
