President Trump...as in the one putting America First. And saying 'bye' to international obligations like the Iran nuclear deal and the UN Human Rights Council. He moved the US's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. He doubled down on the country's friendship with Saudi Arabia. He thinks some places are " sh*thole countries." He had a historic handshake with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He ordered the US to pull troops out of Syria and Afghanistan. And made his first visit to a combat zone. There are ongoing questions about his ties to Russia. On the biz front: his admin intro'd NAFTA 2.0. And issued tariffs on tariffs to try to get the US better trade deals. The stock market's been a little nauseous from the ups and downs. Then there was domestic news: the government is partially shut down...making it the third shutdown this year. The admin intro'd a zero-tolerance policy toward people crossing the border illegally – causing major backlash when families started being separated. He beefed up border control to try to stop migrant caravans from crossing into the US. It's unclear what's next for DACA. Or birthright citizenship. Or the wall. He signed a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. And the admin eased up on some environmental regulations. We learned not to get too attached to people: Jim Mattis, John Kelly, Jeff Sessions, Nikki Haley, Rex Tillerson, Hope Hicks, Scott Pruitt, Don McGahn, and HR McMaster are out. Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, Gina Haspel, and Matthew Whitaker are in. Things got Stormyfor a while. Comey told it all. Jim got Acosta'd.
Climate change…as in the world is getting hotter and something needs to change. Now. You may have seen the UN report that said we have 12 years to massively cut greenhouse gas emissions, or else. Or maybe you saw the report that predicted climate change could cost the US economy hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of the century. Or maybe the one that said countries aren't on track with their goals to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and that their goals are too low to begin with. What could help: things like carbon taxes and lowering coal use.
Russia…the one with the meddling problems. And not just with elections. This year it also fired on Ukrainian ships near Crimea – and Ukraine issued a 30-day martial law. Russia was accused of poisoning an ex-spy and his daughter in the UK. And the country re-elected President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Putin and President Trump ran away from it all and met up in Finland – which had many people raising eyebrows. Mostly…
Robert Mueller…as in the special counsel could wrap up his Trump-Russia investigation soon. What we know: Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen is guilty of violating campaign finance laws. And of lying about a potential plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud related to his time as a lobbyist for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine. Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn got his sentencing pushed back so he can keep cooperating with prosecutors. And Russia used social media to influence the 2016 election, specifically targeting black voters. What we don't know yet: if/how Trump is involved in all of this.
US-China trade war...as in after tit-for-tat tariffs for months, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping decided to pump the brakes with a tariff ceasefire until 2019. Trade talks almost hit a roadblock after the CFO of Huawei (a major Chinese telecom co with alleged ties to China's gov) was arrested. But the US and China keep on keeping on, and are back on those trade talks.
Brexit...as in the UK has until March to figure out a plan to divorce the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May survived a no-confidence vote to remain the lucky person who gets to hash out the details. Meanwhile, no one can agree on the fine print.
Taking a stand…as in teachers from West Virginia to Washington said 'class dismissed' to demand bigger paychecks and more school funding. Prison inmates across the US refused to work and went on hunger strikes to call for better pay and conditions. Hundreds of thousands of people around the US turned out for the second Women's March. The Parkland, FL students took action and marched for their lives. People in France said 'oui aren't happy' about the gov's proposed fuel tax hikes. And Israelis challenged the gov to protect women against violence.
The far-right...as in nationalism is singing 'can we get much higher?' around the world. In Italy, the country voted in an anti-EU, anti-immigrant gov. And approved measures to roll back protections for migrants. German Chancellor Angela Merkel – who's gotten pushback for her open border policies for migrants – is passing on the party chairwoman baton and isn't running for re-election in 2021. Sweden still can't get its gov together after a far-right group gained more seats than expected in its election. Belgium's PM resigned after getting pushback for supporting the UN's pact on migration. And Brazil elected right-wing presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro.
The Catholic Church...as in a Pennsylvania grand jury dropped a bombshell report, saying hundreds of priests sexually abused more than 1,000 children going back decades. Cue other states and the DOJ saying 'we're looking into this too.' Pope Francis and the Vatican still haven't come up with a game plan to end the systemic problem. But they're hosting a global summit in February, and could announce changes then. We'll be here, waiting. In the meantime, the pope wants sexual predators to turn themselves in.
The opioid crisis...as in it's still very much a problem. So much so that the surgeon general recommends carrying Narcan. Kentucky and Florida told pharmacies to lawyer up. The DOJ announced its largest crackdown on healthcare fraud ever. And Congress put on its bipartisan hat and passed a sweeping package to fight the epidemic.
North Korea…the country that made us all think we were on the brink of WWIII. Now, not so much. That's because President Trump and Kim Jong Un shook hands and agreed to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Great, except all signs are pointing to the North still building up its nuclear program. And it's not giving up its nukes unless the US gets rid of its "nuclear threat" first.
Jamal Khashoggi...the Saudi journalist and dissident who was murderedwhile visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Everyone pointed the finger at Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as being behind the killing. Including the CIA, which looked into it and still thinks it was ordered by the crown prince too. President Trump said 'maybe he did, maybe he didn't' – and got heat for letting the country get away with a slap on the wrist and putting business interests first. US lawmakers have been trying to take matters into their own hands. Khashoggi and other journalists were named Time Person of the Year.
Yemen...the years-long civil war may come to an end soon. Yemen's gov has been fighting against Houthi rebels. And it has led to the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The gov has had its eye on the rebel-held main port city of Hodeida. But fighting there risks crucial aid and food, and human lives. Millions of people are at risk of famine. But the two sides have been talking things out. So far, they've agreed on a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange. They're expected to continue talks next month.
Nicaragua…as in earlier this year, the gov said it was making some big cuts to social security benefits. People protested and President Daniel Ortega scrapped the plan. But the gov cracked down hard on the opposition. Hundreds were killed, thousands were injured, thousands fled. People have been calling on the prez to step down. And the UN accused the government of human rights violations in dealing with protestors and told it to back off. The gov apparently says ' everything is back to normal,' everyone else is saying 'not really.'
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