News got you down? You’re not alone. Many Americans are tuning out traditional news, especially Democrats upset by the outcome of November’s election. For those ready to step outside their news cocoons, here’s a running list of wild scenes, memes, and stories from 2025.
Thursday Jan. 16
FBI Director Chris Wray Gives Ominous Warning on 60 Minutes
In an ominous 60 Minutes interview, the recently resigned FBI director Chris Wray—a conservative Republican appointed to the post by Trump in 2017—called China the number one threat to American security. (Echoing sentiments from Trump’s secretary of state nominee: Marco Rubio.) But an arguably equal concern, he said, was the recent spree of attacks at home.
Referring to the Bourbon Street massacre on New Year’s Eve and the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas, Wray, using an analogy found on a car-door mirror, warned that these terrorist attacks are “much closer than they appear.”
Did Tulsi Gabbard Meet U.S. Journalist Austin Tice In Syria?
An explosive new report in The Economist further calls into question Trump’s national intelligence director nominee: Tulsi Gabbard, a 37-year-old congresswoman from Hawaii, who has shown sympathy for Bashar Al-Assad.
On her infamous trip to Syria in 2017, Gabbard allegedly saw a prominent U.S. prisoner: journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted while working near Damascus in 2012. She could have shared this with the federal government to help return him home —as his mother holds out hope—but she did not.
Speaking for Gabbard, a Trump spokesman denied the allegation.
Wednesday Jan. 15
Trump on Greenland and the Panama Canal
What’s up with Trump’s recent infatuation with the Panama Canal and Greenland?
To unpack his agenda, The Wall Street Journal spoke to Alexander Gray, who served as chief of staff on the Trump White House National Security Council.
Much like his promise to build a wall on the border of Mexico during his first term, Gray says Trump’s statements should be taken with a grain of salt.
As for Panama, Trump wants control of the important cargo crossing to set and collect taxes levied on the way through. (It’s become more expensive as water levels have dropped.)
Plus, he sees China as an issue down there. “Two of its seaports have long been run by a Hong Kong-based company, an arrangement Trump says is unacceptable,” writes the WSJ.
America’s most powerful military threat, China, may also be the root of Trump’s infatuation with Greenland. Denmark’s autonomous territory is home to many earth mineral mines, which are vital in making screens for electronics (think your computer and phone) plus the hard exterior of cars.
The U.S. is eager to have access to the minerals in Greenland to compete with China, home to more mines than any other and cataclysmic consequences for its environment.
Sunday Jan. 12
Alex Jones Spreads Odd Lie About LA Firefighters
As LA preps for a second bought of strong Santa Ana winds from the west, misinformation spread on social platforms have been a cause for concern and confusion.
The Wall Street Journal reports none other than Alex Jones, the notorious right-wing conspirator, was posting on X Tuesday that “firefighters were battling the blazes using ladies’ handbags as buckets,” which the paper found to be false.
Hasn’t he done enough to America?
Follow-up note: Canada and Mexico sent firefighters to help LA. Sure nice of our neighbors to see past the huge tariffs Trump promises to impose on them.
Saturday Jan. 11
Gov. Gavin Newsom Sits for First Interview Since LA Fires
California Gov. Gavin Newson sat down for an interview on the left-leaning show Pod Save America. He defended LA Mayor Karen Bass’ response to the fires—but he couldn’t speak to the criticism about her being in Ghana when the fires broke out.
He dodged tough questions like whether residents should vacate their homes in the hills for good and how many homes really burned down. (Newsom brought up a new WSJ cost estimate of the damage, asking how the paper came up with a number before the fires were even out.)
To finish off his rocky defense, Newsom answered the host’s final question: Do you have anything you wish to say to the people of LA? And oh boy did he blow it.
Instead of raising attention to the plight of Southern Californians who feel angry, sad, scared about the future, Newsom used a metaphor associated with San Francisco, his hometown, about a phoenix rising from the ashes; saying the city to the north saw a huge transformation for the better under his watch and San Fran would be no different.
“We’ll never turn our backs on the folks down here, not just on the coast,” said Newsom. “In that very diverse community near Pasadena and Altadena—those communities impacted by the Eden fire—we will be back. We have their back.”
Friday Jan. 10
As LA Fires Rage, Will Big Banks Rethink UN Climate Alliance?
JP Morgan was the latest bank—following Bank of America, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo—to walk back on climate conscious investing promises.
Why? They seem to be bending at the knee to Trump’s climate-denying, business-friendly administration less than two weeks before the orange man returns to office.
One question: Will the LA fires impact the banks’ decision? (Probably not.)
Wednesday Jan. 8 2025
MAGA Crowd Calls For Release Of Jan. 6 Rioters Outside Capitol
Four years after MAGA rioters stormed the Capitol, a new (much smaller) crowd of protestors gathered outside its now heavily guarded gates. A group of red-, white-, and blue-wearing Trump supporters chanted for the release of all those arrested for “trespassing” in 2021, reports Slate.
One of the rowdiest speakers? Mike Lindell—yep, the MyPillow guy. What’s that dude’s deal?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Calls to Rename Parts of U.S. in Honor of Mexico
Presumably in response to Trump’s aggressive comments about renaming the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, Claudia Sheinbaum shot back, suggesting a region of North America be renamed to “América Mexicana,” as it was called in 1607.
Media Frenzy in Los Angeles as Santa Ana Fires Surge
Too many emails making me queasy about this event. I know it’s scary. Please don’t make me feel worse—looking at you, The New York Times. To me, the play-by-play coverage makes it feel like the media is treating a seriously sad story as a far-off war, forgetting the fact it hits so close to home, unnerving an already on-edge U.S. population.
On another note: Nearly every story from a literary magazine on the fires has referenced Joan Didion’s essay: “Fire Season In Los Angeles,” originally written for The New Yorker in 1989. Not a bad thing. It’s cool to see Didion immortalized.
Olaf Scholz: Latest Progressive to Say Goodbye to Power
Angela Merkel, a centrist and member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), bowed out as Germany’s first female chancellor after ruling 16 years in 2021. This paved the way for progressive Olaf Scholz, member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), to take the reins.
But less than four years later, Scholz lost a no-confidence vote earlier this summer. A new centrist member of the CDU is expected to reclaim the top spot, though some experts warn about growing support for a far-right bloc in eastern Germany—members of AfD, a party best known for its racist ideology.
In Elon Musk’s latest prod into European politics, he’s taken to X and sent out messages in support of AfD—much to the disgust of many European leaders.
Further reading: highly recommend this interview between New Yorker journalist Isaac Chotiner and German historian Hans Kundnani.
Side note: Musk is heading a new government efficiency task force with plans eerily reminiscent to those penned by Robert Moses when he first entered New York’s dirty Democratic machine.
Matt Gaetz Sets His Eyes on Ron DeSantis’ Seat
How is this man still speaking? A month ago, he was found liable by the House Ethics Committee for very terrible things: paying tens of thousands of dollars to 12 women over three years for sex and drugs (one girl had only just completed her junior year of high school; his purchase of her body was statutory rape).
After stepping down as Trump’s AG pick, thereby removing himself from his congressional duties, Gaetz stole a page out of George Santos’ what-to-do-when-you-lose playbook: turning to Cameo, an app where fans (?) commission celebs for short selfie videos—often for exorbitant sums.
Now to the news: On Wednesday Jan. 8, Gaetz told The Times he was eying a run for Florida governor, a seat his friend Ron DeSantis holds until his term-limit ends in 2026. It’ll be a race to watch.
OpenAI Founder Sam Altman Denies Sexual Abuse Charges from Sister
Open AI cofounder Sam Altman was sued on Monday by his sister Ann, who alleges he sexually abused her as a child. He disputes the charges, claiming his sister has had mental health issues — a statement supported by his family, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Though it is curious how the suit only seeks damages of $75,000. You’d think if she was doing it for the cash, the number would be bigger.
Ashley Elizabeth Miller 
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