Q04

Describe an event in the world that has impacted you this year. How? Why?

The collapse of American democracy as a direct result of the second Trump administration. The slide into fascism was faster than anyone anticipated and at the same time exactly what we knew would happen. Project 2025 is actively destroying our country and its citizens. The havoc wreaked on student loans in particular has me especially distraught on a personal level. The ICE kidnappings and federal invasions of our cities (and as of this week, Portland) have been devastating. Political assassinations and regular mass shootings in this country, unending violence in Palestine, the continued captivity of hostages in Gaza, all because of small, weak men hellbent on destruction and power. These world events are depressing, terrifying, and felt on both a global and deeply personal/local level. It is inescapable and harder to hold onto hope this year than years past. But continue to hope we must. It's an act of compartmentalization every day just to survive it all. Political world events aside, there were also the LA fires in January 2025 that burned down two completely different neighborhoods/towns at the same time in our beloved city, and took with it the home of my dear friend Janine as well as schools, businesses, museums, and so so many other homes. Fundraising for Janine was an honor but FUCK that was a terrifying week. Those events were so impactful in showing how fragile and interconnected our lives are, as well as the powerful fury of mother nature.

Ugh, the trump presidency round 2. Just sucks, worse than even imagined. From the ICE raids to the tariffs and the gutting of vital government departments. Just depressing and it really worries me what the secondary effects of these massive changes will be. There's so many that it's hard to track them all and the one that will really come back to bite us will most likely be something barely covered.

Oh fuck this. Fuck Israel. Fuck Hamas. Fuck Palestine. Fuck Trump. Fuck Netanyahu. Fuck terror/ists. Fuck murder. Fuck death. Fuck all of the people that don’t know history. Fuck all the people that want others to die. Fuck all the people who are loud and stupid. Fuck all the people getting in the way of peace. Fuck anybody who thinks people don’t deserve basic human rights like shelter and healthcare. Fuck everyone who makes me feel unsafe for being Jewish when being Jewish is so adorable and fun. Fuck. All.

Every day is a new nightmare and I can’t sleep through the night and I don’t know what to do or how to help other than donate to causes I care about and leave the country as frequently as possible.

Thomas Mann's 15oth anniversary. Wish I'd found some way to take part in public discourse about him before the year is out. Maybe I still will. Particularly interesting time for him and the Jews!

Ongoing genocide in Gaza. I feel so much pain and heartbreak for all the suffering. Innocent lives lost and families starving to death, all in the name of supposed Jewish safety. And our country is complicit in these crimes that only hurt us ALL.

GDSOBHFHWTAF. With the change in admin there's been so much hate, so much violence, so much unprocessed grief. We as humans are not meant to be exposed to so much tragedy. We should know what's going on in our village and handle the emotions of that level of knowledge. That's our capacity. But seeing/hearing/reading what's happening in the US, Gaza, the world - to say it's overwhelming is an understatement. It's all so impactful. How are we as humans supposed to keep feeling without succumbing? I don't know the whole answer but I know building a life joyful enough worth fighting for is part of the answer. I know being the tree, not the bonsai is part of the answer. I know viewing the darkness as birth and not death is part of the answer. I know part of the answer is knowing I don't know the answer but being okay with the journey of looking to build it. It's HARD and it's worth doing. I hope I can continue to live in my values and maybe even do it more visibly in the coming year.

The unfolding catastrophe in Israel and Gaza continues to have a strong impact on me personally and professionally. Trying to speak authentically about it is an ongoing challenge in a world in which so many people look to me to articulate certain talking points and are disappointed with me when I don't.

Just a few weeks ago, my partner and I were walking down the street when we came upon a cop abusing this innocent Black woman, pinning her to the street and causing her extreme torment. She was shouting to be let go, that all she wanted was to be helped home. I have had a difficult time moving past that moment, shaking from my head the image of the police doing the job as designed.

Trump’s coming back into power has profoundly affected my life, because our family is military and we’re caring people. It’s prompted us to consider backup plans and take steps toward making them a reality.

The whole situation in Israel has me anguished, anxious, and depressed. It's been 2 years since October 7th. Hamas continues to win the media war to make Israel look like the aggressor while it is Hamas that is still keeping the hostages, not disarming, and not leaving their own people in peace. Coupled with that is the continued viciousness of anti-semitism around the world. Physical attacks on Jews continue to happen, including at synagogues. I don't think Israel will ever regain our former standing in the world. It's all so devastating.

The ongoing war in Gaza, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and all the horror playing out in the U.S. all cause me great upset and grief. I pray for peace all the time.

Too many horrors. I don't know. But fuck Charlie Kirk.

A presidency and political situation in the US that has done more harm and damage to society than it has lifted up humanity. Power breeding power, greed breeding greed -- the ugly, pathetic side of the masculine power, barely applied for good of the group. These are not the models of society I want my children and their children to be programmed for. If only we could learn from our past. Then there are those who yield or have no choice to yield (out of self-preservation, consciously or not)...heartbreaking and sad. What if I eventually fall for it. I pray for peace within, peace for those impacted, and peace for those who feel the need to reign over others through force. May the force of love and compassion take over and lift us up together. Doesn't have to be perfect, but much better than the current state. How many humans does it take -- is it even possible?

Fuck. The T presidency? That has impacted the entire world, and I live in the world. Everything that fucking administration does is a tragedy, and I hope the revolution comes soon. I'm so sick of their bullshit.

Israel/Gaza ~ it’s sad how humans are incapable of getting along and have to fight each other xx Labour getting in and crapping up the UK. Another 4 years to go and it’s already a disaster xx

I'd be hard pressed to think of anyone answering this question who wasn't answering "the (re)election of Donald Trump," and though I don't think it's impacted me, personally, I can see all around me how the spectre of American fascism has impacted my online communities, my work community, and so on. We've gone to a number of protests, I've struggled to respond to student fears, and so on. And as a tenured Jewish professor, it's been a challenge to figure how to use my voice and privilege, where, and when.

The war in Gaza. The genocide. It’s awful and horrifying and disturbing and I don’t think it should be considered antisemitism to say so.

The ongoing genocide in Gaza has been horrific to continually bear witness to. I can't take it anymore. My heart cannot take it. What else is there to say? People are blocking traffic in the streets, getting arrested, sending money -- we watch as three or four people whose actions have never lost them any sleep debate over whether an entire people deserve to live with dignity. It is beyond comprehension. It feels as if the actions and the feelings of many mean nothing compare to the whims of a powerful, vindictive few. On the other hand, watching Zohran handily win the NYC mayoral primary was the first time I felt hope in a while. They are two events on near opposite ends of the scale, maybe -- local electoral politics and an ongoing genocide -- but at the heart of it, it felt like the will of the majority was heard, something we can't seem to take for granted.

Ugh Trump. I hate him sooo much. It feels like my country is falling into its base instincts and this is very distressing. I have somehow more and less faith in other people as they are led astray by him and we seem powerless to stop him from causing chaos either intentionally or unintentionally

Trump getting reelected and becoming president again has been wildly catastrophic to this country and to the world. It impacts me in small, annoying ways, like not being able to get through a day without a mention of him and some stupid thing he or one of his cronies did or said, and in larger ways like negative impacts on the economy or people and communities I care about. Things in this country feel very bad and scary, in a way that seems to be getting worse. I experience a strange cognitive dissonance, knowing that people are literally dying and having their rights and livelihoods stripped away, while I myself am on the whole doing quite well, building a beautiful life for myself. But I know that feeling guilty about my relative privilege does not help anyone, and I have to continue to do what I can to advocate for those who are marginalized and under attack.

The genocide in Gaza.

The presidency of the worst candidate in our history. He is terrifying and his impact on our future is untenable. My concerns are for our future and for the young people who have to contend with and repair his impact. I'm asking that my name not be shown because of concerns of ramifications (due to his threatening influence).

The ongoing genocide in Palestine, in which my country is not just complicit but an active contributor; the rise of fascism in America; the terror inflicted by the administration and its allies on my friends and neighbors. It is a horrifying time to be alive and also I am inspired by activists who treat hope as a verb, who continue working to protext vulnerable people because to do anything else is unacceptable. I'm afraid a lot of the time but I take heart in knowing this is a collective struggle against darkness. There are a lot of us carrying the weight together.

The inauguration of Donald Trump as US President has affected me profoundly and negatively. Simply put, he is a severe danger to our democracy and our way of life.

Oh God, I guess Donald Trump being elected AGAIN and seeing the country descend into naked fascism AGAIN only this time more quickly because Republicans are weak kneed cowards for no reason and there are no old school Republicans in this administration, just professional rabble-rousers and edge lords. I hate that I can't (or shouldn't) participate in any protests or actions because I'm pregnant. I want to help the people who are getting dragged from immigration courts into gulags. I want to help the people who are suffering from ethnic cleansing just for the chance to Donnie to turn Gaza into a gaudy resort, I want to help the trans and queer people who are already so vulnerable and will soon become the next scapegoat. And so few people, especially Jews, recognize this all too familiar playbook. So many Jewish Americans worshiping at the altar of the current Israeli government, an extreme far right government, who somehow think that the current state of affairs in both countries is acceptable. As if we were never the first targets in any other situation anywhere else in the world throughout history. It's fucking shameful.

There was a hostage deal over the winter and then nothing. And then nothing and nothing and nothing. I wear the yellow ribbon and I think about them less. There are fewer of them there now. I know their names and their stories and their families and I think about them less. They are likely dying and they are less and less at the forefront of my mind. They are neglected by anyone with any power to do anything about it. I love my life, my life moves on, I experience richly rewarding and emotional and exciting things in my life and they are no longer offset by the feeling of mourning that they were last year. Rachel Goldberg Polin spoke of what you learn about power and who she had to become and what she had to do to work within those structures. I’m hopeless now and it’s because of what I thought before and understand deeply now - that we can rise up and try to take action but there is a limit on what we can achieve when those in charge aren't interested. Maybe this is a sour moment but it’s such an extended moment. The Beautiful 6 were murdered last year and I was distraught and said something must come of it? And this entire year I’ve understood that nothing comes of any of this. The achdut of the first 6 months after 10/7 was not a mirage, but it was the forced compression of circumstance. We will fracture under the pressure of the failures of our leadership. Our diaspora leadership too. The promotion and election of the worst representatives of us as our voices. I fluctuate between meeting incredible people who inspire me, and dread and lost hope for our future. We are brilliant and strong and brave and love each other, but we are disorganized and lost and confused and torn between our safety and our love of humanity. Between our love for ourselves and our love for our brothers. I don’t know where we go from here but I feel crushed by it all.

Trump being re-elected. I feel we march further down the historical line towards either WWIII or the fall of the empire. Nothing so dramatic as civil war, but undoubtedly getting bogged down in some historical snafu that is the beginning of the end (if it hasn’t already begun).

Gaza. Again. I don’t get how power and greed and money can make a nation ruin another. And I understand even less how many people still justify ‘the side of the lights’ actions that bring only darkness. And I hate what we as a people are becoming. Racism is getting worse and worse. Against Muslims and Jews. I wish people would care for one another despite their differences in religion, culture or skin colour. There is so much richness to be found in that.

For the zillionth year in a row, I’m trying not to pay too much attention. Trump is making the world a crazy place, but at least he - and/or the authors of Project 2025 - are raising questions & identifying problems that are long overdue for addressing. What they’re doing - esp Trump, with his assault on our democracy - is terrible; but at least they’re raising the questions. Democrats are all mouth noise, as usual. Which is disgusting and demoralizing, and all of which leaves me feeling I’m still in the middle and everyone has walked away.

The war in Israel is constantly affecting me. The shadow of the fate of the hostages is always inside me.

Trump was elected this past year and with that came some of my friends thinking they might be moving out of the country. This was an eye opening moment for me that kinda pushed me into the deep end because i had never thought about my life without these friends in it, especially one friend who I've had for years.

Anti-semitism against Jews. Wonder if we are in the pre-Holocaust era again. War in Gaza been really bad. Everyone hates Israel and while it's totally out of proportion and people use it to mask anti-Semitism, Israel is also questionable as to why it's there anymore. Is it political for Netanyahu, will further war even achieve anything... The hostages are stuck there and it's horrific thinking about them every day. Hamas are disgusting and hate Israel far more than they care about their own people. It's horrific. Israel blew up pagers in Lebanon and it was pretty hilarious and also attacked Iran, then supported by the US, and it was apparently extremely successful too. Afghanistan is now completely offline cuz if there's anything we know about Muslim radicals it's that they hate women and anything Western. It's awfully sad. I fear the influence of Islam in our world. Someone just attacked a shul in Manchester over YK. Very sad. Also Charlie Kirk got shot and many people think this is ok and they're all psychotic people supporting political violence when it's someone whose views they don't like. How anti-democratic. I fear for the divergence of American political views. Our friend A has become ensconsed in a progressive bubble and become even more extreme than he was previously.

For many of my adulthood years, it would have been fair to say the world was turning to shit, but with Trump taking office again this year, the shitstorm has accelerated and things have gotten decidedly bleak in the US. In a short number of months he has eroded democratic institutions, rolled back countless progressive policies and protections, and created a culture of fear across the country. Trans rights are being stripped, ICE is deporting thousands of immigrants, and a genocide in Palestine continues to be subsidized. Every day we slip further into fascism, and the exceptionalism many Americans have harbored about our ability to succumb to authoritarianism has been exposed as sorely naïve. These are dark days. Never before in my political life have I felt confident saying that we are moving backwards as a nation and as a species, but it is undeniable now. That doesn't erode my hope, and there are very many inspiring examples of progress that continue on in corners of society. The work I do is part of that, and that makes me proud. And I am continuing to try to find ways in my personal life to contribute to the cause, by staying informed, brainstorming cooperative projects, trying to find avenues to plug into my community. This moment illustrates to me how joy and happiness and optimism can still persevere in the face of greater forces of evil. I don't have much faith that our country can be saved, whatever that means, but I am consistently reminded of the power of community and local grassroots efforts to meet needs on a small scale, and how much those efforts matter when so much else is out of our control. I feel called to figure out how to be of service to my community and make an impact wherever my heart and hands are drawn.

Yikes. Tr*mp and the dismantling of the US government.

OMG. One event? Well, it would be Donald Trump's second election to president of the US. Holy shit! The damage he and his 'advisors' have accomplished is monumental. The Federal Government is experiencing several brain and competence drain. They're cutting, no hacking and slashing. People worked for the Fed because they wanted to SERVE the country. They worked for less pay than the private sector pays for comparable positions. People are being fired. People are retiring early. Some are simply quitting. We're losing responsible, intelligent workers. Trump will replace them with incompetent fanatics. Or no one. I can't list all the horrible things they're doing. However, limiting foreign students from coming to the US to attend our universities and bullying said universities into becoming Liberty U clones will force the intelligent and creative to go elsewhere: Japan, Europe, Canada? We will lose our edge. We will end up in the academic, creative, and innovative backwaters. And the craziness with foreign relations? We'll never gain back the status we worked so hard to acquire during WWII and after. Pulling all our foreign aid is handing the rest of the world over to the Chinese and Russians. The rest of the world knows we can't be depended on. They'll not look to us for help or be our allies, our enthusiastic, whole hearted allies, in the future. Immigrants? This country was built by immigrants. And slaves, but that's another discussion. We need younger, ambitious people to come here. We need their labor and their vision. I'm sure I've left off other areas of damage, but it depresses me to think of it. I don't watch as much news. I write postcards to voters, and I go to the occasional local demonstration. Trying to think of a pithy, witty, incisive sign for the next 'No Kings Day.' Less than 3 1/2 years to go.

The dismantling of our government stemming from the rise of DJT to what he believes is his throne. It's like democracy is melting into the cracks in the sidewalk. And this is only the beginning of his term. So much apprehension. Along with it has emerged a large group of people who believe women do not need to have the right to vote. Their husbands will vote for the family. I don't have family. Will my "household" be "permitted" a vote? But the nonsense is affecting the world also, with tariffs rocking the economy. The rest is too big to pin down in words.

The decline and fall of the United States. No one single event, but it is horrifying to watch in real time. And to not know how it ends (although history can be used as a guide and it's not good).

Air crash in Ahmedabad that happened in June. I was always scared of aeroplane ride, post this incident I am scared a lot and unable to even think of taking a flight. No reason, but he take off video is traumatising

Well, obviously Trump's reelection has been a terrifying calamity. It seems like every day I have to find new ways to manage this insanity. I am really committed to staying as grounded and clear as possible, but it takes effort. Also, the fatigue and fear around me takes a big toll. Even though I feel "post-transition" that distinction feels pretty insignificant as trans people are so laser-targeted right now.

There have been several assassination attempts and successful assassinations on political figures this year on the left and on the right. This is deeply troubling. And I'm not just upset about those who committed the acts of violence--their access to weapons, the polarization, isolation, and mental illness--but also the reaction of the general populous and our leaders. Violence is condemnable. We are all humans with people who love us, and we have so much more in common than we choose to remember. Somehow we let ourselves fall into the trap of tribalism. My heart breaks.

The rise of anti-semitism has still impacted me as there was a terrorist attack in my own state. Additionally, the Trump presidency has negatively impacted many- it seems like our world is moving backwards and empathy has gotten forgotten in the process- instead the Trump admin governs on fear and dividing people. I pray he does not run for a 3rd term, he should not be allowed to.

Israel's many wars tear at my soul. The feelings of sadness, fear, helplessness, anger and worry have become a daily event. As a jew, and a former resident of Israel, I cannot help but feel a deep impact. Israel's many struggles have defined my life, even though I identify as an American first. Palestinian statehood should be a goal with peace and recognition of Israel as its central tenets.

Honestly, I haven't paid attention to the world. I have deliberately avoided the news. The world that I live in is local and timeless and ultimately present. In a time when it is so hard so disconnect, it's the wind and the leaves and the way the moon rises in the evening that matters. It's my son's face when he looks up at me from the breast. It's the feeling of my husband's hand in mine.

Orange Shitler was reelected and American democracy is over now. I've had to stop listening to NPR because my rage is constant and hearing the latest news just enflames it further. I need to step away from the truth for my own sanity, which is the way he wants it. Others are stronger and more mentally fit than me and they can take over for a while, because it's not like my ineffectual raging is helping anything. I'll be right there when fighting starts, though, I promise.

Trump's election, October 7. Not unrelated. Because they speak to the desire for annhilation of trans Jews.

Whoa, no way to really capture all the stress and trauma of the new administration. I'm not going to say more because I don't want to go down the rabbit hole.

I'm displeased with the current administration, but I don't think it would be better with the other side. I watch the news. I grieve. I worry. But ultimately I recognize that daily life has remained largely not impacted by all of the disasters.

Trump. Enough said. I'm so disappointed in this world.

Trump again. Fuck that shit. Its absolutely disastrous. Plus all the crazies who think the opposite of me. Ugh!

This year, it’s been impossible to ignore the slide toward authoritarianism in the U.S. and beyond. Watching democratic institutions weaken, rights stripped away, and truth replaced with propaganda has left me both furious and numb. It’s terrifying to realize how fragile freedom really is—and how quickly cruelty becomes normalized. The only thing I hold onto is the belief that awareness is still a form of resistance, even when hope feels naïve.

I'll stick to a large tranche in North America: the 2024 general election in the United States catalyzed a crisis of cruelty and ignorance. Where I have any proximity to power, or straight up power, I am using it trying to block harm. I am using it to recharge enough to build after blocking. It was once lovely to say another world is possible, now I feel the weight of making sure another world is available.

ICE agents in DC and everywhere. The takeover of DC has really galvanized our community. I’ve never been so hyper local involved and it’s really nice to know my neighbors and organize with them. I’m also relearning Spanish so that I can communicate better with folks too. FreeDC!

Anything that’s happened in America since January 20, 2025. It’s not an exaggeration to say that every day has brought a new shock. My entire self image and self-worth is wrapped up in the truth, intelligence, and compassion. Watching those in charge of our government, not only trash those concepts, but deride people who demonstrate them, has been devastating.

The mass deportations and how they have been handled in Chicago. I’m so conflicted - I believe in the process I just hope that we are in a bette place in a year.

I can't speak of or deeply face the arrival of shitcan fascism to my beloved country. It is so unspeakably awful all the fucking time. I am focused on doing good and resisting in my small sphere as constantly and consistently as I can, and praying to gods I don't believe in that somehow the majority of Americans who want decency and institutional norms can prevail. I'm staving off despair to help my kids face a future that might well be utterly fucked.

1. The election of Donald Trump. 2. Gaza - my heart absolutely breaks for the hostages and their families. I want to be back in Israel so badly. 3. Ukraine - Volodomir Zelenskyy deserves the noble peace prize. He is absolutely exceptional.

The election. It has my spouse scared, legitimately for their safety, has deeply affected their mental health (and I am so grateful we had the funds and resources to find them new mental health professionals with more relevant skill sets), I'm worried for dozens of friends as well, and I'm struggling to stay informed without hitting overwhelm or spending too much of my time in rage mode. And still, still, the genocide of Palestinians is ever ongoing by the state of Israel. I'm clinging on to every scrap of hope as it comes, but these times are so hard. I also need to find a therapist, for me, sigh.

increase in cruelty and unlawfulness by our government. each new event pushes me down HARD. Then i float back up. I am lucky one of the lucky ones. the impacts on me are 'merely' spiritual, emotional, mental.

La vuelta de trump, la guerra de gaza. Todo esta dado vuelta. Que le ocurre a la gente, por que tanto odio, individualismo, muerte, masacre. Que afortunada soy de vivir aca, de tener a mi familia, de tener paz, que el privilegio no nos quite la empatia

I am stunned, sickened, shocked, disgusted, and feel helpless about what the Israeli government has been doing to the human beings of Gaza. It is a genocide. What sick fuck thinks it’s ok to starve an entire group of humans….to death?! It’s made me lose so much respect for Israel. Back in August, I believe it was NPR, that said that some 60% of Israelis don’t believe that is happening. And, then, that it’s considered controversial in the US to say there is a genocide . And the silence. What the hell?! I stupidly thought Jewish people would be anti-genocide. Jesus, we’re all vulnerable to hate, ignorance, and revenge.

OH HONESTLY. This question. The Israel genocide. The continued insistence that it's a war, while they're starving men, women and children to death and bombing them or poisoning them at the same time. And pets too. It's happening in real time on social media and we just can't seem to stop it. So stop it.

This year I was less invested in and less impacted by global events. Of course the ongoing wars affect me, but not like the year before. I've disconnected a lot from it, focussing on myself. Meditation has been really important here to help me unhook. Charlie Kirk's shooting oddly shook me a little. I'm not quite sure why - maybe because he's often in my feed and didn't deserve to die. I like people who argue well and stand up for what they believe, even when I don't agree. Otherwise, I think the introduction of AI into our lives began for me this year. This has changed my way of being in the world and my interaction with technology on a fundamental level, by changing the core interface and platform of engagement.

My city had 2 tornados while I was hospitalized. We had to drive through the damage on our way home when I was able to leave the hospital.

My news feed this year has mostly been filled with stories about changes to federal policy and the war in Israel-Palestine. My intention has been to stay sufficiently informed while not spending too much time on it. I’ve also tried to continue consuming a balanced diet of news from different sources. This has helped me appreciate that there are different ways to think about what’s changing and happening and that I must remind myself and others about the importance of understanding multiple perspectives on current events. We can’t assume that the other side is simply crazy before taking time to understand how they see the narrative differently than we do.

Trump winning. Yikes. What horrible state the US is in right now. Lies permeate his every statement. He is cruel, vindictive and money-hungry. There is no limit to what he will do to make this country bend to his will. He has no kindness or empathy.

Trump began his second term, and immediately began to dismantle the United States of America as an institution. He has had far too many helpers for comfort.

Not one event in particular - just a general rise in hatred. The nationalist attitudes of many countries and the rise of the far right is worrying in the extreme. Focusing on our differences only leads to grief.

The us election. It made me hold closer to torah

Trump cancelling Jimmy Kimmel really rocked my world. Rarely has a news story affected me like that. I have become incredibly suspicious about the spin from the “two sides” who control the rage machine. But this seemed straightforward (albeit there may have been a legal loophole for Trump to do it). The US government is censoring speech. I didn’t like the Biden administration pressuring social media companies. That was wrong - very wrong. But the level of threats to Trump’s enemies is different. It’s scary. It makes civil war or war with other countries — just senseless violence — seem a lot more real. We are so lucky to live in such peaceful and free times. We need free speech to protect us. (Related… I recognize that free speech and the internet combined to create polarized rage culture. But I still believe free speech is what will get us out of it.)

Gaza. I can't believe there is such cruelty in the world. I can't believe it has been allowed to carry on. It is heartbreaking

The continuing conflict in Israel and Gaza has only worsened this year, far beyond what I would have ever predicted in my most pessimistic guess. Anti-semitism has grown more pervasive in the US and around the world, and locally we have seen ICE raids devastate our communities. I'm left breathless by the sheer audacity of the so-called government to throw aside norms and laws. I think it will take a very long time for our country to recover from everything that has happened and will continue to happen under this corrupt and shameless administration.

Election. And all the things that have followed. Devastation, anger, fear, numbness, hopelessness, hurt, betrayal. My relationship with Dad has changed forever. I could barely function at first, and now I feel dissociated from it all. It’s hard to find a way to feel and grieve and function at the same time, and to find my own ways to act when I feel powerless.

The Trump administration's disgusting and unrelenting assault on the Trans community - among other communities I'm a part of.

Trump coming to office--again--has been so much worse this time. He's making fast decisions without letting people have time to make contingency plans--including those in active warzones. He's throwing thousands of people out of work and causing great stress. This made my job search much harder, but it has absolutely wrecked my sister's life.

The way the US presidential election went. It was revealing of huge problems on both sides of the political spectrum and how pervasively they are hurting collective well-being. This matters for someone who values critical thinking, reasonable consideration of opposing views, and working for humane solutions to all problems.

The results of the 2024 Presidential Election have produced nearly daily news items. I did not vote for Donald Trump. I cannot understand how any reasonably intelligent person can continue to support him, in the wake of his self centered, narrow minded, and (at times) dangerous incompetence. I can only hope and pray that chaos remains somewhat limited. I fear for the future.

The second term of President Trump that started in Jan 2025. There was a big shift from the campaign version and the governing version of the team, which accelerated many painful and hurtful policies. My job in human services, that starts every work day to help vulnerable individuals, was hurt. My faith in my community was challenged.

Trump's election is the world event I feel the most consequence from. I do not feel this is the forum for a political rant, but I will express a profound sense of sadness at this event. I don't feel that America will slide inexorably towards authoritarianism in any lasting way - freedom and democracy are built into the DNA of this country. However, I am disappointed in so many of my fellow Americans on both sides of the political spectrum for the polarized state of our nation and the lack of trust, tolerance and optimism. E pluribus unum is and always should be our creed, and I pray for a better day for our country. God bless the United States.

Donald Trump's election. I imagine this is everyone's answer. I find it very depressing and a reminder of how toxic our world is. The actions he and his administration are taking are VERY scary. They are arresting US citizens without reason, threatening free speech and blatantly ignoring the constitution. I think about where we could go if we needed to leave the US. I used to think Europe, but Europe's history of persecution of Jews is dark and frankly I think Russia is trying to start a protracted World World 3 in Europe. I will say as a white person though, I try to keep in mind the freedoms that we have enjoyed to date, that are being threatened, is nothing compared to what Black people in this country have faced. That gives me hope.

What's happened in the U.S. with the Trump administration and everything that we had been warned he'd do - watching it come to fruition, and watching, observing, listening and living through what feels like a slow-motion train wreck that I can't stop has been indescribable in terms of impact. There are times I take a self-imposed news-break, social media break, and move into a place of solitude and quiet---sometimes alone and sometimes with a few people who share my concern but we don't always talk about it. I fear for humanity and I'm often shocked that the pain and concern is so deep that it precludes me from two of my self-care practices of letting tears flow and writing. Sometimes even being in nature doesn't seem to help and that's surprising because I get so much solace and wisdom from nature.

Trump’s return to office. It has been painful to witness the lack of response from Democrats. And horrifying to see law firms, universities and media companies cave to his demands, when in actuality he will do whatever he wants regardless of people’s and institutions’ responses. He is currently claiming that the government shutdown is why he has to fire government workers. But he caused the shutdown and he is blaming Democrats and using it all as an excuse to do what he would do anyway, which is destroy what’s left of our government. I am lucky, so far. I have resources. I am not personally hurt by these changes. But I know and see people who are. Immigrants, trans people, students, scientists. And it tears me apart. I don’t know what I can do to stop it.

Our new government has thrown all convention out the window, and I am honestly a little fearful of what comes next for us as a nation.

This year has been particularly chllenging, with the continuous conflict in the Gaza strip, with an ONU-recognised genocide, war in Ukraine is still going on, climate change being more and more tangible every year, and the US Trump administration in full power and influencing the entire World's politics situation. The threat of a third WW looks more likely every day and, if my concern before was relegated to my husband and me getting out of London safely with our two cats, having a baby now changes everything, all of my worries are now centred on how to make sure he's safe. Moreoevr, my baby is mixed, which means that with the rise of racism going on, I am also worrying on the impact this will have on him.

The reshaping of my country’s politics from democratic republic to authoritarianism. I continue to be shocked by those who think the president has unbridled power - nationalists, those who are NOT engaged in their self governance - willful ignorance, and those who do not engage out of fear. I am living in a place and time where allegiance to political ideals determines who is a safe person for me and who is not a safe person for me. The president has declared anyone who opposes him will be treated as an enemy of the state. I have been well indoctrinated from my formidable years that it is my right to purse life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That I have the right to criticize my government. I will not be intimidated, or live in fear of my beliefs. I will continue to stand up and speak for what is right. And to speak out for human rights.

The India Pakistan skirmish, the US Presidential election. Been chaotic.

I continue to be depressed about the egotism and disrespect that much of the country demonstrates. I see our country turning from a democracy into an authoritarian country.

What event in the world HASN’T impacted me this year? Every day — multiple times a day, in fact — there’s breaking news of something truly terrible, whether it’s debilitating tariffs or vaccine standards that ignore science or the repeal of critical court cases or the appointment of unqualified idiots to governmental positions… ICE raids, mass shootings, censorship of free speech, antisemitism, stunning acts of racism, the dismantling of DEI… the possibilities are endless, and we seem to be experiencing each and every one of them. Trump’s election, in general, marked a stunning reversal of progressive forward motion, sending the country (and out global standing) back into a downward spiral that is, somehow, even worse than it was the first time around. These are deeply dark times, and I genuinely fear for our future. It’s an especially scary time to be a Jew, a woman, and a mother trying to raise a young child to believe in the good in humanity — when I often have trouble believing it for myself. I shudder to think where the US and the world at large might be at this time next year.

The re-election of a wannabe fascist dictator feels like all the air - where air is hope for the future and faith in humanity - out of the room. What happens in America ripples out on the rest of the world, because we are wealthy, powerful, and dangerous — even moreso now because we're being ruled by unhinged men salivating with their hunger for dominance (and drooling due to their utter incompetence). It is a terrifying, wretched time to live in America. I wonder if this time next year I'll be a refugee. And it doesn't even feel particularly hyperbolic to say that.

Israel's genocide campaign against the Palestinians. Horrifying, but not as horrifying as the lack of response from world powers or willingness to try to stop it. The world has shown that it will tolerate any amount of threats to humanity (although not to $$). It's human nature, in all its glory. Illusions shattered.

the last year has been a blur of terrible news events. I don't know where to begin. I'm beginning to feel numb to it all.

The arrival of our daughter Grace has impacted us beyond anything imaginable and has brought newfound happiness and love. There were difficult times during the pregnancy as I came to terms with the changes ahead. I thought -‘Previously I had freedom and options. Now my path is fixed’. Adjustment to our new way of life came slowly but was as sure and true as the sunrise. Time, introspection and conversing with trusted friends who have walked in our shoes enlightened me that, in fact, this would be the greatest blessing. A colleague remarked that they never knew true love until the birth of their child. I can relate, as Grace looks into my eyes. It's a truly enchanting feeling. Love like I have never known. I fell for Charlotte all over again. We have faced the beginnings of life’s greatest journey as parents head on and as a unit and we have proven our strength as a couple is deep and enduring. Reflecting now, the experience of pregnancy and Fatherhood has given me the purpose and the direction that I desperately needed. It doesn’t subtract from the person I have become. It supplements, in the best way. My flaws are still there, causing thoughts to stray, but I say with conviction that my relationships at home have never been stronger or more meaningful.

Kids turning 16 and 19 almost. They have a lot more freedom than independence. I’m happy for them. I feel some emptiness some pride, some relief and some peace.

I'll pick one thing: I thought I was cynical enough to withstand anything they could dish out, without personalizing it. But when our highest court explicitly legalized masked government agents kidnapping anyone they think might be Latino, I had a real bad week. I brought my child to this country with the understanding that she would be a citizen, and she proceeded to become a federal employee using that same understanding, and it's not true. I just don't know how to live with that.

The inauguration of Donald J. Trump as US President has initiated a series of economic and diplomatic upsets, and his stated "models" for executive government have many worried about a fascist takeover...

When ICE detained that Iowa Superintendent, Ian Roberts, I felt scared. I don't feel safe in this country anymore as a law-abiding, natural-born citizen who happens to be Black.

As the war on Gaza becomes more clearly a horror and an effort at genocide, I am reckoning with my relationship to Israel and what it means to stand firm in my values.

Geez, where to even start with this year??? Trump was elected, again, and the war in Israel/Gaza continues. Trump is turning this country into a fascist regime, and each day is scarier than the last. Immigrants and trans folks are his main targets, and both are continually vilified. I am neither of those, but I support both very much, and I am unsure the right way to respond, how best to fight back. There is so much to fight against, but so hard to choose a place to start. Then, on the other side of the world, the war in Gaza drags on. The hostages are still held, and more and more of Gaza is destroyed each day. My sense of right and wrong is scrambled as I try to tread through the news, separating propaganda out from truth. I don't support Israel's actions, but I support her right to exist. This belief makes me feel alienated on all sides, and I never know if it is the "right" choice or not. I pray for the war to end, for the hostages to be released, and for Gazans to live without fear. Is there a world where all of those can be true?

The inauguration of #47 President of USA and all subsequent events arising from it have had a major impact on most of us. In my case it means not going to visit close family in USA. Continuing ratcheting up of potential escalation of hostilities with Russia in Europe is very much part of the way #47 and his government have worked. World is very much less safe place and alliances are shifting in the ways it makes it difficult to plan for the future where my family is spread over two continents.

Trump's presidency has not necessarily negatively impacted my particular life, but seeing so many people support him has greatly affected me. He is a disgusting human and I can't possibly understand how people can support him. However, it is making me look critically at the Democratic Party and made me realize more issues within the party than I had previously seen.

Oy. Things are bad. The genocide in Gaza continues, unraveling the moral fibers of our people and our country. The election was bad but the inauguration was much worse, because Trump's election was not a huge surprise, but the swiftness and the strength of the authoritarian actions in the last 8 months have been disorienting. The ICE raids and deportations, the punishment and imprisonment of those exercising their free speech rights with regards to protests against the genocide, the gutting of the government from its ability to perform basic functions, most notably the CDC and its ability to protect people from disease via vaccines. All on top of all the ways that our government wasn't protecting people before (re: the population already incarcerated, already in foster care, or experiencing mental illness and homelessness). Being able to protect them now seems so much harder because people are so desensitized given all that’s been going on. It's so hard to know what to do. You can read the news, you can go to protests, you can talk to your friends but ultimately the Right has been very successful at making everyone else feel powerless. The one bright light this year was the primary election win of Zohran Mamdani. His campaign is really the only thing that brings me hope these days.

The loss of my sister has made me realize that she was the only one who I had shared memories with. It remains an upheaval of sorts. Some people are gone before they’re gone. And, she in a sense did and didn’t. She had wanted to die for years, mental issues mixed with extreme pain, cancer and extreme physical disabilities made her life a living hell. So, aside from being sad, I am relieved, happy and extremely grateful. I could gave been kinder and/or more attentive. I’m not going to waste time feeling guilty, but moving forward my thoughts more than ever lean to “intention.” Thoughts, speech and deeds. Another issue— the rise of severe anti-Semitism throughout the world. Has made me come to the conclusion that being a Jew in the world is an act of radical defiance. And, I embrace this wholeheartedly, and with vehemence. Doubling down on being the best Jew - post-denominational or whatevs, a Jew without borders/boundries I can be.

Oh my g-d where to start?? Trump's re-election has made every day a new horror. My wife's healthcare might no longer be covered, I live in fear for my friends and neighbors being snatched off the street, and I feel constantly scared of being hate-crimed for being Jewish while also being terrified for the lives of Palestinians. Every single day is terrifying in a new and baffling way.

There are so many to choose from. It feels like there is so much unrest in the world that impacts everybody, such as Ukraine and Israel, and our own country, unfortunately. I sure hope things are better by this time next year.

I think the event that has impacted me the most this year was the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Although, I didn't listen to him religiously, it still made me very upset. Mostly because he was such a good person, had good values and morals, and did not preach hate. He stood up for freedom of speech and dialogue, and he was killed simply for voicing his opinions. It makes me scared to raise kids in this escalated environment, where people turn to violence when they feel like they have nothing else to help them "win". And in addition to Charlie's assassination, it just feels like an uptick of violence is happening around the world and in our country, and I feel pessimistic at times in the current state of the world. The rise of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments across the political aisle also frustrates and scares me. In these moments, I realize how important it is to keep my faith in G-d.

Hahaha...oh my. Trump's election, Israel's genocide in Palestine (yes, I know this is a Jewish website but I also know a lot of Jews are against what is happening in Palestine, as they should. If you read this and think that you are owed this land and that you justify the killing of children and innocent people in your sick mind, know that you're not special, you're not superior to any other religion or people, you're brainwashed and need help. Karma will get you in this life or the next.), the rise of AI and the many floods and wildfires all contribute to a feeling of complete madness and despair. It's hard to see where we are heading as a species, as humans, but I fear for our safety, our freedom and our livelihoods. I don't know how many people will still have a job in 5 years, who will still have a home, the freedom to express their discontent at their government, the right to buy what they want...Scary times we live in.

Trump... I have never experienced such existential dread. It feels so hopeless to do anything half the time but the other half I feel brought to tears with how hard people are trying to change things for the better. I think the United States will be trying to recover from this for much longer after Trump is out of office. FREE PALESTINE

There have been so many bonkers situations that it's hard to isolate. The casual racism that permeates society right now and drips through common interactions like poison is wild.

The shift to right wing politica and Partien worldwide. I am afraid.

Trump is ruining this country and I don't understand the capitulations: to surrender to an enemy to agreed upon terms, to give up resistance and stop opposing his illegal demands, often agreeing to demands, of law firms and universities. It seems they have no back bones or integrity, and are completely naive. I keep trying to imagine what it was like during the holocaust, and now, here with ICE coming after innocent immigrants.The fear, the incomprehensible behaviors of people towards others...in a modern society and here we are in the US watching our own rights being trampled on.

There are so many. The Trump Administration loves "flooding the zone" with actions made to outrage. The pace of the violence of this administration means that I can be outraged and grief-stricken by something and then the news cycle moves on. In January, the fires in LA were devastating, impacting people who I know personally. Thinking about how much is uncertain in this world is scary and unsettling. And yet people are incredibly resilient. I feel less confident about all of the immigrants who are being deported to places they fled from. It's a dark time.

I feel bad but I honestly am not paying attention anymore. I'm focused on my family and my son and I hear the sad stuff about Israel from work or political nonsense on social media and that's about it. I do care, but feel a little helpless and like it's out of my control and can't put my energy into events of the world in this phase of my life. Trump being reelected was pretty shocking and heartbreaking and I'm at odds with my family about it and I do pray that this country can come to it's senses for the next election.

That f-er in the White House is destroying America. Yep. I said it.

Trump winning again and taking the world in such an extreme direction…. Polarizing things further.

The retreat at cornerstone had an exercise in it where you looked at key life moments, and you categorize doing the things that you’re grateful for things that were problems are stressful or issues/fears and trouble, and then people that were important to you looking back in the history of your life. Very similar to a fourth step and fifth step in sobriety where you review your life and the things that have you torn up and you see a set of just looking at the liability issues you get to look at the assets. I saw that every time I had a problem, generally became a catalyst for something positive. I saw that I had a lot to be grateful for. And I saw that I had a lot of people in my life that if I narrowed them down that I was very thankful for and appreciative of being in these moments with me, God wants us in fellowship not only with him but with each other.

The world event on my mind has to be the election of Trump for a second presidency and the No Kings rally we attended subsequently. Seeing Donald Trump win over Kamala Harris was such a devastating blow. The racism, the sexism, the awfulness, and the feeling of helplessness combined to make even me fearful about going to a rally. The No Kings beach event, of course, was wonderful, empowering, wholesome, safe, and inspiring, a truly lovely way to spend a day. Overall, in spite of so much hate and fearmongering in the news, I remain hopeful. I believe in the power of my own communities to resist and rise. I believe I will see America overcome this rise in fascism my lifetime.

Obviously the horrible destruction of our country. Its not surprising given the outcome of the election but its shocking still. Trying to find a beacon to work my way through. And honestly I am fearful of how Netanyahus similar path in Israel has inflamed anti-Semitism. I worry that his virulent "defense" has discredited any sense of the justice and decency inherent in the religion for a millennia. The ultimate oppressed tribe is now a stark icon of oppression.

When the protests began, I was deeply moved by a powerful moment during a “No Kings” demonstration in France, focused specifically on women's rights. French women stood united, their bodies beautifully adorned with shimmering American flags under the warmth of the sun. Like warriors, they marched in rows—strong, graceful, and unapologetically bold. Watching them, I felt an overwhelming sense of support and validation. It was not just a protest—it was a profound, genuine expression of solidarity. An extraordinary reminder that across borders, our struggles and hopes are shared.

Well the ongoing conflict/war in Israel and Gaza continues to have a huge impact. The levels of Jew hatred and anti Zionism are alarming. Experiencing the world, it seems, unmask their Jew hatred en masse - not knowing how to have conversations, when ‘it’ will come up, assumptions made. It’s scary and confusing. Being worried for Israelis and Palestinians. Hating this war. And people just chanting ‘from the river to the sea’. Not questioning Hamas. Accepting the hatred and suffering of Jews as a valid price to pay for daring to exist. Trying to express our own complicated and confused opinions. Hating Bibi and hating Hamas and hating the war and loving Israel. It’s exhausting.

Trump got elected again. It's truly disrupted the world order, tariffs, Europe feeling the need to bow down and also arm up... I feel sad and scared and worry about war.

I know that this isnt really an event, but gun control and the terrors of that macine over all really horifies me. I feel like there is a dark figure always looming over me playing eni-meni-mine-mo around the room and pointing to people who could have guns. I know this is a stupid idea but it feels real and scary to me.

ICE, Trump, Gaza, Zionists, raging wars, famine, destruction, an insane government, zero countries helping bail Gazans and Sudanese out of starvation, all of this. All humanitarian aid to Gaza is being met with gatekeeping and forcible attack, so they cannot get food to these starving, dying people. I'm fearful and depressed. Too many people won't learn their history and will make snap judgements and are somehow okay with everything that's happening and defend their ignorance. This is not about Hamas. Hamas was created as a resistance, not a terrorist organization. They're not terrorists. They're just fighting back with what little they can. Zionists are fucking insane. I've met some, and they're scary, entitled, and will kill you if you're in their eyes religiously unclean. They have murder in their eyes and think because they are "god's chosen" they can murder other people. Or rape. Seriously, everyone who is not on board with this insanity needs to organize and deal with this situation. There is enough of everything on earth for everyone. We need to stop making more people and care for those already here.

The continuation of the Israeli invasion of Gaza. This is a perfect example of how leaders often act in their own personal interests rather than those of the country. It is shameful that all of the hostages haven't been released and it a breach in the covenant between the people and the state of Israel. Israel has given collective punishment to all Gazans and has shown a callous indifference to civilian deaths. I hate to see Israel becoming a pariah among the nations and squandering the goodwill after the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas.

The Trump regime has been horrifying so far and every day brings new travesties. It seems that he wants to rip the nation apart. Racism, destroying the economy, attacking the environment, attacking immigrants, attacking the rule of law, his campaign of retribution, his rampant corruption...the list is endless. Although the impacts on me personally have been minor so far, I keep thinking of my dad. Dad went to war as an 18 year old to fight Hitler. He flew dangerous glider missions over Europe and Northern Africa and I know he saw Hell. He lived to 87, always hating fascism and militarism. To see our country's descent into fascism would surely kill him if he was still alive.

This one is easy. Trump 2.0. It has changed everything. Vought said he wanted Federal workers to feel traumatized. Well, they have succeeded in traumatizing everyone who is not loudly MAGA. I am trying to hold taking some daily act of resistance with a new idea of nurturing the places the regime has a harder time penetrating - family, friendships, community. This does not come easily to me. I don't have a great network.

The election of 2024 was pretty devastating nationwide. The ICE roundups are terrifying and he is cozying up to Qatar. It doesn’t feel safe here most days.

Warm un Ukraine, somewhat eclipsed by the war in Palestine. Has me thinking so much about people's hardship. Our affluence in comparison. Politics in art. Questioning what purpose my art has to me and the greater world.

War, all around me. And its turning uglier and uglier. It sounds absurd but I'm slowly and finally learning to deal with it. I'm not alienating myself as much from my community, I'm working harder on mental hygiene and emotional distance towards things I can't change.

The genocide in gaza continues to be a driving force in my life.

Opting out of this question for now because I hate always writing about climate change and government ineptitude and war and corruption. Nope, not today. Will come back when I've found something happier to write about. OK! I'm back. It's been very interesting to me watching the different ways that people are protesting the situation in Gaza. There have been some (in my opinion) rather performative forms of protest such as hunger strikes which I just feel are a bit of a waste of time. One of my favourite podcasters has been sharing stories of specific individuals who are living in Gaza and encouraging donations to them - her podcast and substack are free and she doesn't have any kind of Patreon so she feels like this is a way her audience can give back and make a difference. It was thrilling to me to see people walk out en masse at the United Nations when Netanyahu was speaking. There have also been protests at the Tour de France and La Vuelta a Espana linked to the presence of Israel Premier Tech in the peloton. I usually feel that sports and the arts should be excluded from discussions of world events but there's no arguing that events like this have a huge platform, and I would 100% support the removal of IPT as a team sponsor. Although where do you draw the line? Shell supports GB Cycling. Several repressive oil-based economies sponsor cycling teams. The money's got to go somewhere so why isn't it used for something that brings so much enjoyment, adds to economies etc? I do think there's a difference between oil sponsorship and links to war crimes but then climate change is an existential threat so... oh dear, I'm tying myself up in knots over here! Probably a sign to leave this question for now.

I hate the orange cheeto. He's ruining America. He's making misogyny common. He's making America into a third world country. He's destroying basically everything that makes America a good country. After this, we will basically be a fascist country.

Again DJT and the devestation he and his MAGA have inflicted.

Donald Trump being re-elected and wreaking havoc on the US democracy process. It has depressed me. Seeing my country fall to ashes has been very upsetting.

There have been so many assaults on freedom of expression, independence of media, judiciary, governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations that do humanitarian work throughout the world it has been a challenge to not fall into a downward spiral of despair about what # 47 and his Cabinet have done to negatively impact people in the US and throughout the world. I support individuals and institutions that do positive work to counter this. There’s been a heaviness amongst them as they deal with daily devastations but as John Lewis extolled us to ‘make good trouble’ we try to ‘keep hope alive’ and amplify light in what’s been a very dark time.

I found my purpose in life this year because of who other people elected as president. I did not vote for him, and though I tend not to talk about politics, I realized that my purpose is somewhat tied to this presidency: I am here to help heal the tension and pain brought about by the polarization of political beliefs and societal differences in custom. America is struggling right now, and though I'm not supposed to fix it, nor can I alone, I have to help heal peoples' hearts, create spaces for safe dialogue, and encourage communication and openheartedness between people of different beliefs and opinions.

It pains me to still be writing about October 7. But it is undeniably still October 7. This time last year I was writing about how Israel was going after Hezbollah in Lebanon. This year I can note that Hezbollah is essentially eradicated, and we've since witnessed Israel and Iran exchange warheads. The US even entered the war with its awe-inspiring B2 Bomber obliterating Iran's nuclear facilities. Whilst the war wages on across the region, the propaganda is all focused around Gaza. There hasn't been a single weekend where Palestinian Protestors have not marched through Sydney and Melbourne. Just this last week we saw that Australia has had the highest protests for Palestine besides one other nation.. Yemen! The U.K., Canada, the U.S., have all had less protests (of 10,000 attendees). I raise this because these protests have always been cesspits of propaganda and Israel-bashing. I recently contacted an old school colleague who was attending them and asked if she had ever seen anyone there mention the hostages? As of today, early October, we still have 48 in Gaza - 20 being alive. The answer was "No". Did she care about them "Yes". I asked why couldn't they do both at these protests - lobby for a free Palestine, and for the hostages? Why can we not do both? The culmination of this was Tisha B'Av this year. Pro-Palestinian activists won a last-minute High Court decision that they could march over our Harbour Bridge "for humanity". The police had about 2 days to plan for it. Tens of thousands of people attended. Our roads and transport were thrown into chaos. As people marched "for humanity" holding the flags of the Taliban, posters of the Ayatollah, burning Australian flags, and shouting genocidal chants like "From the River to the Sea" and "Death to the IDF". All on the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. If it was ever a time to discuss leaving Australia - a march over the Harbour Bridge filled with hate, so little love and peace, empathy, and no room for Australian flags or the hostages - was probably the day. That same day happened to be dad's death Yarzheit, August 3. So, while people were marching, we were saying prayers by dad's tombstone. It also happened to be Aunty Marian's unveiling, so we attended that too. And because the day needed it, I was asked to come and participate in the minyan for Tisha B'av. I told the Rabbi of the day I had had, and he told me to “go home” - but with all that I'd seen and all the emotions I felt - praying in shul felt like the right place to be. ----- That march over the bridge fucked up people for weeks. I cannot underestimate this. It's months later and I think we are only coming up for air. Jews around Australia were mortified. Did no one see what we saw? Did this not look like Hitler Youth marching through a German town? So much hate, so much vitriol, and of course, it was advised that the Jews stay home. ----- We had friends sit at our dinner table about 18 months before. Non-Jews. We spoke politics, history, film. We joyously drank wine and I made them kosher pizza - from scratch. He, an Italian, loved it and commended the job I had done. Everyone had more than seconds. During that “Humanity March” his partner shared videos of him with a Palestinian flag wrapped around his body, leading the chant "From the River to the Sea"... Where does he want my people to go? ---- I feel like in the past year, the difference is that we are now collectively feeling generational trauma. I've never really thought about the weeks and months and years leading up to the Holocaust. We know some read the room and fled. We know others were hopeful. But collectively, we know that there was great disappointment, great shame, great betrayal as Jews were slowly made to be more and more degraded- to be banned from shops, to be forced to wear stars, to be forced to live together, to be gathered up, to have their possessions looted, to be forced onto cattle cars... The treachery is that some of this was done by their neighbours, by their friends. When you see a friend of yours, who sat at your table, and ate your kosher pizza, who has never reached out to you once about antisemitism or the impact of this war, but feels like they can shout genocidal chants during a march meant to be for humanity - you cannot help feel the deeply seeded fear and dismay seep into your soul of generational trauma. Where will go if we do not have a home?

maybe i'm a bad person but I don't know anymore. all of it? the apathy everywhere?

Donald Trump being elected president was the worst day of my life! I can stand him, his awful politics and the way he is running the country. I can't believe this...

Again, and always, the Gaza genocide and my lack of agency to stop it, has broken my heart this year. That, and the election and onset of the Trump administration. Both represent the worst of humanity - and knowing that so many of my fellow humans actually support these developments forces me to rethink my view of the potential for people to come together to lift us all up. I resent how much I end up feeling hatred for those perpetrating the atrocities happening in Gaza and the West Bank and in the streets and courts of the U.S. I don't like having to feel that way about anyone. On RH, the rabbi asked us to think about one person we might want to be written for death this coming year. I wish I didn't want to wish death on anyone, even Bibi and Trump. The rabbi wanted us to try to assume that that person has food intentions despite everything. I could not. These feelings and wishes keep me from being the person I aspire to be.

Trump becoming president has been a scary realization that our Democracy isn't as stable and permanent as we thought. Daily life continues to be fine, but the specter of authoritarianism casts a long shadow on things. I'm worried.

Trump. That fucking idiot is turning the country upside down and destroying lives. I'm scared for my kids and my friends and I feel utterly powerless to do anything other than yell about it.

Gaza. Trump's persecution of immigrants. *gestures broadly at everything* It's been a year of improvements on a personal level and a year of horrors on a state, national, and global level; it's been hard to balance joy and anger/terror.

Where do I start...? President Trump is hurting his own people more than he is hurting other countries with his tariffs. He is a madman. His own people are rebelling. On the good side, our country is branching out and selling and buying with other countries. We are also building our military up to where it should be. We are looking at ways to take care of ourselves through developing our resources instead of sending them out and then buying the finished or better developed products back. It's actually helping our country and others to 'wake up' and take responsibility for ourselves.

We hired Trump NOT to stress people and families. He is doing poor leadership, poor public relations and poor communications with his base. I still find it hard to believe that good people see him as a savior.

This year our 45th president became our 47th president. Everyone is less safe as a result. We are overwhelmed at the volume and pace of the protections being taken away and targets being drawn on the back of our neighbors.

Trump's re-election and subsequent dismantling of the democratic values and norms that our government have been based on for decades. How in the world can Americans think that DJT could possibly be good for the country, when all he has done is enriched his family, accumulated power not granted the Presidency in the Constitution, weaponized the Justice system to go after his "enemies" (the people he dislikes and rails about as having been 'unfair' to him), and defunded one of the most important international organizations we've had -- the AID.

The reelection of the liberal party in Canada. It has been very angry because of feels like things are never gonna get better in Canada.

Christ, the Trump presidency. Fears about Rx'ing GAHT, wondering if gay marriage will remain legal, ongoing genocide, student loan uncertainty.

The conditions in Palestine. I hope by next year there will be a palestine and that Palistinians will have autonomy from imperial interests.

Oh please. Seriously? The election of Donald Trump has had an effect on all of us. Waking up worried, trying to figure out how to respond in a meaningful way (i.e., a way that would actually make a difference). It's been hard ... and is looking to get harder with the government shutdown.

Many... the world seems in such a hectic place. So many countries being affected by different things.. the world is hurting... can be overwhelming.. but it's a reminder of the shift occuring.. of change happening... and awareness growing. The biggest shift for me is a wonderful saying that I came across "It's later than you think".

October 7 massacre and the genocidal campaign of the government of Israel. Families displaced, starved and killed by a state created as a response to the holocaust. Grief. Disillusionment. Rage. All children are our children. Trump,inc and war against multiracial democracy is terrifying and clarifying.

La decadencia mundial remarca la evidente decadencia de mi madre. ¿Por qué se hace el ser humano estas cosas a sí mismo? Guerras, cambio climático, la fuerte mercadotecnia que sigue apoyando el consumo y las ideas de buscar el poder y el éxito para ser "alguien". Paso de los 50 y sigo sin entender tanta locura. Porque no es cuestión de explicar por qué es que hay guerras, por qué es que se sigue explotando sin mesura a la Tierra. Lo que no entiendo es porqué no paramos.

I think the election was a world event that impacted my year. Politics are involved in everything and it can be confusing especially as a Jewish person. I know my solid, core beliefs, and those do not always line up with one political party. The election made me feel like a bit of an outsider in my community but I trusted my gut and knew that at the end of the day only I can make a choice for myself.

More trump. National guard sent into American cities. Government shutdown. Political nightmare.

Problematically or not, I have no idea how to answer this in a way that doesn't sound self-centered.

Holy shit. That motherfucker Trump has destabilized everything I thought was unshakeable. The world has gotten significantly uglier as he goes around attacking people he sees as enemies, and instigating similar attacks among his followers. I feel pretty unsafe a lot of the time, in a kind of general morass of insecurity.

The return of Trump as president has caused significant increase in my anxiety and overall distress level. I fear for myself, my kids, my friends and this country.

Trump and everything about him have made the world worse. People are angry, unempathetic, and unkind. Everything is expensive, and life is stressful. Israel's genocide against Palestinians has caused me to have complicated feelings about being Jewish. I love this culture, belief system, and way of life, but I do not want to be associated with a country that commits genocide against innocent civilians. It is especially infuriating to me that this cruelty is being done by Jewish people. If anyone should have empathy for the Palestinian people and be fighting against genocide, it is Jewish people. Since my synagogue is very "pro-Israel" I no longer want to attend events there, and I am no longer sure if I want my son to attend Hebrew school when he's old enough if he is just going to be taught propaganda about how amazing and wonderful Israel is.

Trump's reelection has been traumatic. Less because of who he is -- and more because so many of my fellow Americans voted for him, bought into him, believe in what he has to say, thought he offers the answers, the solutions they want to the problems they have that he will never ever care about. And now we're seeing the rescinding of everything it feels like we hold important, from healthcare and international aid to education and balance of power to our democracy itself. I'm feeling paralyzed, devastated, useless, deeply depressed, fearful, anxious. Sometimes apathetic because this just is what it is. And surely there have been other periods in history where others have felt the same, and they've moved through it. But some people didn't. What period are we in now? And how do we get through this?

Trump’s election has changed everything- the extremism, fear, hate, antisemitism and anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions it’s spurred is like nothing I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. It’s everything that my grandparents warmed me about all over again but this time worldwide. I fear for my children and their future.

A significant event that happened in the world this year was the election of Trump. It has been worse than imagined. It makes me feel like I am not doing enough to stop the horrors of this administration and also my state’s administration. Currently there is a government shut-down and there is a big red banner on the HUD website about how this is because of the Radical Left. It feels like how did we ever let it get this bad? How will we come back from this (and will we)? How can I do more, because I feel really guilty for not being more involved.

Well, Trump in office is horrendous. It's terrible to see what he and his insane administration are inflicting on the US every day. As of recent weeks, I've worked to check the news and be on social media less, to protect my own sanity as many things I can't change. I still am working to see how I can contribute positively in this awful time.

The war continues... as I write this I'm watching the flotilla livestream nearing Gaza to see if Greta becomes a martyr. It feels like its all we speak and talk about, and watching a genocide unfold over the year will probably impact me for life more than I can currently comprehend.

Living in the EU, watching the US economy and politics "burn" was a major downer

The world feels oppressive. The current administration feels like it's attacking everything I am. It changes how I see people, how welcome I feel in spaces, how confident I can be with being who I am, with the direction and the impact of how I live my life.

Oh my gosh, so many. The reelection of Trump this year was a very destabilizing moment at the start of the new year in terms of what I thought of the future, of the state of things, my fellow Americans.... The impact has been for me to bring my world in close--to pull back from the news, bring my attention--my family and friends, my work and the people I serve there. The daily tasks of doing good work, work of service, bringing care and hope to those around me every day whose lives I am able to positively impact.

Definitely the US Presidential election & our subsequent fall into fascist totalitarianism. It's infuriating and absurd and inescapable. I may well regret not moving to another country, but I also can't imagine uprooting the kids right now. I hope they are smart enough and able to expatriate themselves for college or soon after.

Israel ramping up its wars. It's simeltaneously made me feel strong and very nervous.

The Israeli hostages not being returned to us yet and the world being overrun with antisemitism

Trump. I've never worried about the state of our democracy as much as I have this year. I am terrified, but I feel committed to doing what I can, such as sending postcards, participating in protests, and making donations when I can. Somehow, I know this, too, shall pass, but at what cost? The world is on fire.

My fiancee and I made the choice not to get married this year in Vegas as a part of our original plan. Instead, we decided to get married in Scotland for 2026 and have started officially planning. As much as I wanted to get married this year so badly, I knew it wasn't the right time but it took me a long time to accept that. Ultimately now I feel happy knowing I made the right choice and I'm excited to get married next year.

The election was very disappointing especially seeing the autocratic rollout of the current administration. On a more personal level the continued genocide in Gaza and the seemingly apathetic political class and masses has bothered me deeply.

Gaza. The war is devastating. It makes me feel powerless. And of course, the election. Again. A feeling of powerlessness, and also a deep drive to do something.

the ongoing wars & violence against women, children, vulnerable, marginalized folks--makes me sad but also compels me to do something about it so here i am--making the most of the limited time i have on this planet

The presidential election results felt catastrophic, and the effects have far exceeded our expectations. Daily bad news continues to unfold, as we continue to spiral down in the destruction of our 200+ year old democratic country. There is a sense of collective disbelief, and ongoing resistance, but nothing seems to slow the momentum of the opposition, now in the drivers seat.

The war continues and the world continues to be the wrong kind of crazy. I still feel as if my entire culture has been stolen. The more I learn about BB and his family history the more my sadness/anger grows. The more I understand the thief that's always been. The way the world is blind. The way our people let themselves be led astray. The way it is all so clearly wrong and yet they try to make us accept death in our name. The trick began so long ago we hardly stand a chance.

A second Trump presidency is a disaster for our nation. It is depressing and frightening to see the fast rise of authoritarianism. I struggle with understanding my role in the resistance. Although I am involved, I never feel it is enough. Would any amount be enough? Is it okay to still enjoy everyday pleasures? When does it become a state of emergency when we must put everything else on hold?

Israel and Palestine. The world hates us. Initially I was scared and went inward. Now I feel myself desensitized and avoidant. I’m an American with only a small amount of friends and family in Israel. It’s a privilege to say that. I feel helpless and isolated.

One thing that impacted me this year was Donald Trump getting elected instead of Kamala Harris. This was the first time I was able to vote for a woman president, and I was so excited about the potential of having one, especially while I am living in Washington, DC. On the night that Trump was elected, the vibe in the city completely changed which was so sad and daunting. I also am scared of the fact that people let him be president and what he has done and will continue to do. I felt like I was also greiving the fact that America isn't ready for a Woman as president which is sad and terrible.

There is a rather undeniable sense of observing the rise of fascism, though it's difficult to write those words without feeling like I'm simply parroting other, louder voices. Not because I don't believe it is true, but because that alarmist language sounds performative when my being is so insulated and protected from the realities of state violence. Still I am looking for the forms that my political consciousness can take. What can defiance look like for me now, living this life? The thought of expressing political will in this present reality feels like a hand at my throat. I've silenced myself significantly in the years since October 7, having been so loud and certain in those first few months and now feeling so aware of my own hypocrisy, my own desire to cleanse myself of implication in systems of harm. Yet I know that self-recrimination is also unhelpful, particularly as it leads to silence and inaction. There may not be a clear place to stand but I must not collapse, because it is not my body that is under assault but my own humanity, my very soul. So stand I must. My heart will break over and over every day, and to allow myself to feel that pain and weep and rage and try and fail and continue, utterly humbled, is how I remain human. I need to keep writing and talking about this. I need to keep Palestine alive in my mind and in my heart without falling into the trappings of reductive political discourse and fearful projections.

The continued siege on Gaza by the Israeli government has been devastating - for the Palestinian people and for the reputation and safety of Jews worldwide.

US Trump Victory. Just can't put into words how distressing and confusing it is that so many seemingly reasonable humans can support this selfish, moronic, buffoon, who is having only negative impact on the country and the world and reinforcing the worst social behaviors that humanity has spent years evolving away from.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk. I am dumbfounded that everyone cannot just say that this was unequivocally wrong without qualifiers.

Apparently, I am a terrorist now. A Jewish, intellectual, anti-fascist. My country is under direct attack from dangerously incompetent religious fanatics and billionaires. The news is awful. Every. Single. Day. Fuck Drumpf. Fuck Steven Miller. Fuck ICE. Fuck Musk. Fuck Speaker Johnson. Fuck Pam Bondi. Just fuck this entire goddamned administration, top to bottom. The singular event of last year was the fall of democracy. Where it ends up, who knows? I’m just praying I won’t be here for it. Farjado looking better by the day. So is Mexico. I’ll get there or die trying.

Donald Trump has filled his cabinet, the congress, the judiciary, the media, and corporate America with people that won't say no to him. It is a scary time in our democracy and, yet, half the country is as happy as they can be. Very Surreal.

Israel's continuing war with Hamas. The hostages are still not home. Antisemitism on the rise. More and more people seem to be believing fabricated information about Israel and Jews. It's all very scary. And we Jews are our own worst enemy.

Being a teen watching Columbine on the television, seeing 9/11, Sandy Hook, Pulse, and SO MANY MORE terrible world events, I don't know if I have the capacity for them to register anymore. We lost two trees across the street this year, that was very sad. Many trees in this neighborhood have come down in the past few years, but I know it is the natural life cycle of them, and we are all planting new trees to take their places.

Honestly the same answer as last year, Israel-Palestine. Plus, you know, fascism. I spend a lot of time thinking about it, and at one point this year it kept me up at night, but I don't think I can do much about it beyond what I'm already doing.

The war in Gaza continues to sicken me, but the complicity and fueling of the war by America is almost worse. The new administration has terrified me, and every day it seems to get worse. Today I considered starting an anxiety medication so that I can simply better tolerate what I hear everyday. It's tiring, destabilizing, insecure, uprooting. I feel a lot of fear all the time. I find it difficult to dream and plan ahead. I am not comfortable with anger and protesting and taking social risks, yet I also feel complicit if I do nothing or say nothing. I am about to finish my training as a psychologist, and I'm working under many supervisors, some of whom are Jewish. I wish we could talk about it, I wish I had more support in witnessing this, I wish we could address and discuss the disintegration of any sense of security (I say this knowing that this sense comes with a lot of privilege) and movement toward justice in my day-to-day life, rather than ignoring it. I'd say most of the people in my life do ignore, or it does not impact them at all. I can see how I've done that before about other issues, and it's painful and isolating. I am trying to get more connected to faith, to build hope and trust and resilience..in knowing that there may be change and meaning and healing beyond my comprehension and imagination.

There are too many. The US is a shit show. Post Oct 7 Judaism is becoming something new. The paradigm shift is loud and messy. It’s agoraphobic, transphobic, capitalist, sexist and fucking exhausting. “The economy” is in decline (yay!), which means getting paid feels harder and the cost of living is going up. I’m looking forward to the new paradigm that is in labour right now but this is no easy hypnobirth. I’m scared and tired and wishing I could somehow be above all that. I feel like I’ve been catching my breath in personal challenges most of the year and not doing enough to help the collective. In this moment, I can’t even remember what challenges I’ve been navigating, other than being sick and tired a lot. And breaking up with my partner of over a year and a half. And Dad’s death. And cockroaches in my apartment. And construction taking over my building. Small potatoes. (Said both ironically and straight.)

Trump presidency. I'm afraid being a brown woman. Again, america has received a get out of jail free card if you are white.

There is a bit of a recession starting. Prices are still high. Sometimes it feels like everything is just too expensive to get ahead. That can make things difficult. There is warfare going on in Israel and Gaza. It’s horrible and scary.

I think with everything going on in my family and personally, I have been - shockingly - focused inward. I don't know that I have really been so engaged with the outside world. Which feels horrible to say because so much has happened, but, I really don't even know what to say in response to this question. Also, in a way, what hasn't affected me? Which feels like a cop out question but I am just struggling to come up with an answer.

The Gaza War, Trump's election, political assassinations. I feel like the fabric of society is crumbling and it makes me lean even harder into my little pocket of existence and focusing on what I can control. That doesn't mean the weight of reality is not super depressing.

La guerra Israel - Palestina. Me hace cuestionar no solo al gobierno de Israel sino la versión de la historia que conozco y que esta ligada a mi identidad como parte de Am Isreal. Al mismo tiempo mi sentido de pertenencia esta fuerte, pero es complejo y doloroso el conflicto y sus factores. También el antisemitismo que ha destapado la situación me ha impactado y me conecta visceralmente con la historia del pueblo judio y la historia de mis raices y familia y la persecucuion que vivieron mis abuelos y por la cual soy Mexicano. Tambien ver tantas narrativas simplistas e ignorantes, muchas llenas de odio y otras (y esto es lo más complejo) de gente con buenas intenciones y buen corazón pero poco entendimiento del tema. Es muy dificil este issue.

The fires in LA didn’t impact me directly but they impacted so many who I know. The war in Gaza continues to impact as does the Trump presidency and seeing the dismantling of democracy and the checks and balances of the government. I pray that a year from now when I read this that things are better and not worse. I am hope my calmness about it all isn’t catastrophic.

Jesus christ, the fucking US "presidential" election. I honestly don't have anything else to say about that.

Geez what event in the world hasn’t impacted me this year. It’s been a lot to take in. I guess the 2o24 election and its subsequent consequences have most deeply impacted me personally and professionally. Every day is wild and overwhelming. It’s like we’re living in the darkest timeline. It’s numbed me a bit but I also think it’s made me more empathetic and resilient.

I suppose a continuation of my answer last year as there has been a continuation and exacerbation of the war/genocide/brutality/inhumane treatment of Palestinians in the so-called "holy land" I suppose that naming is in line with my thinking of one extreme has to be connected to another extreme. If a place can be so so holy then clearly it must also hold the capacity for immense amounts of destruction and lack of sanctity for fellow human life?? gah.

I can't describe just one because there have been so many. From continuing to watch a genocide unfold on our screens to everything the Trump administration has been doing to living in Texas still as they pass more anti-queer legislation. It's exhausting and terrifying and mind/spirit numbing. It's so easy to lose hope and to feel like there is no joy in life.

The war in Gaza and the Ukraine. But mostly the rise in antisemitism.

Trump...What more to say there. What a shit show too. The world is absolutely crazy and not just in US either but ESPECIALLY here. Charlie Kirk's death has been an absolute catalyst of hatred and anger.

There are so many. Just the overall rise of authoritarians, hate, and war. It has caused me to nurture my spiritual life with great intent. And that has caused me to view this as a moral struggle between love and fear. In turn, I claim it as sacred opportunity. That's taken me from anxiety to calm. I'm grateful for all of it; except the cruelty others are suffering.

It's a close running between what's happening in Israel and the term of Donald Trump. To me they are both autocratic maniacs who allow even worse fanatics to run the countries and I fear greatly for the outcome. I often wonder when I will take to the street and actually have to put my life on the line.

I guess impossible not to still be talking about Israel. Last year's misery has bubbled over into a sort of tired rage this year. The wedding was delightful, my friends are delightful, Jerusalem is so inexplicably The Place, and yet I've never felt further from it or my People. Divided, silly, self-indulgent, xenophobic, aggravating; lost, hurt, scared, unprepared; it just feels like everyone around me is splashing in the Dead Sea and getting salt water in their eyes. Tears of joy for next year plz.

The genocide in gaza, always, always on my mind. A heart can scream and scream, a body can do nothing.

US tariffs. It puts in perspective the fragile balance in world power. The world is going to shit

The geopolitical shift towards Palestinian sympathies has been increasingly stressful for me to manage at work. Some of my clients make statements out of ignorance, but for some it is coming from a place of internalized antisemitism that they don't even see. It is literally my job to be unconditionally affirming, and this has begun to come into conflict with my ability to be therapeutically present. I am left wondering how much further this can go before it reaches a breaking point for so many of us?

The quick and encompassing take over of our country by the authoritarian regime of Donald J Trump. The impact? Total dismay, disgust, and disbelief. Fear too.

The change in leadership in our country has sowed the seeds for very negative and regressive change. My family’s rights are in question and the rift between people has grown both in depth and size. We have felt the strain in relationships with people we love, particularly because it no longer feels like a difference of politics, but rather one of values and morality.

Trump became our president again and has thrown our country and world into uncertainty and division. He let Elon Musk disassemble the government, he pulled the plug on critical programs and projects, he made many Americans ashamed of their country, etc. His tariffs have caused a lot of uncertainty in the economy as well and unemployment has swelled and hiring slowed, which I think has made it harder for me to get a corporate job again. Which, at this point, I'm actually okay with. I think he created a lot of turmoil that we've all been effected by, but I'm trying to use the upheaval as a chance to realign and really stand in my values and beliefs. People need each other, and people need hope and inspiration and love. I am able to create and share those things easily. I feel a calling to be a positive force in this world and a positive example.

Trump's election. Life since January has been terrifying. I assume I'll still be in the US next year when this comes around but so many other queer people are leaving or making escape plans.

Undoubtedly the reelection of Donald Trump has been the most disastrous thing to happen to the United States in my lifetime. And sadly I say that without hyperbole. While Kamala winning was never a guarantee, she ran a decent enough campaign, and Americans knew who he was. When he won, Alex said to me, "Mommy, why to they hate us? Why do they hate black women so much?" It was hard to know how to respond. His terror started in January with defunding USAID, which basically in my mind amounts to the deaths of innocent poor black people across the continent. He then imposed Elon Musk's wrath on us and DOGE dismantled large swaths of government including the Department of Education. We've seen ICE raids in major cities, and the militarization of places like DC and other major cities. Foreign policy has also been in shambles, with Zelensky being snubbed by the White House while Netanyahu is emboldened. Colleges and universities have been defunded, and many (along with weak-ass law firms) are choosing to settle by paying the government millions of dollars. And in popular culture, Colbert's show has been cancelled because of a back room deal with CBS, while Kimmel was pulled off the air for a week because he said something about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. And Trump is just beginning his assault on philanthropy. It is widely agreed upon that the US is now an authoritarian regime, and democracy itself is under threat. It's a country I hardly recognize after only 8 months -- and I can't fathom what it will be like in a year, or four years. Civil War is not out of the question. I feel awful for my kids, who don't deserve this terror on top of what they already endured with the Pandemic. Perhaps most frightening is the fear that we see amongst Americans on the left which, paired with the impotence of Democratic party, leaves me anxious for the future of the country. Some people are saying that the great experiment in American democracy is over. That too may not be hypebole.

Again, the political scene is terrifying. I never dreamed our democracy could falter. And die.

The election of the person, who shall not be named. I always thought that we were better than this as a nation. I was wrong. This is apparently who we are.

The election and current presidency of trump. Mom's research grant is constantly in turmoil driving her crazy. Jobs and organizations I care about are disappearing as I look for full-time employment at 26. My brother is making aaliyah as Netanyahu and Trump tease eachother into destroying (or atleast pulling their countries out of) the long standing world order that saved jews from extermination. Everything feels fucked, everything is changing minute by minute and noone knows how to respond to any of it. Get me off this boat

Trump's tariff policies may make my business fail. The cost of the electronic boards - essential to my company's product - are increasing in price, possibly to the point of making our company go out of business.

The enduring aftermath of October 7th 2023 🎗️ - it was easy to know how to feel immediately after this event - sickened, horrified, enraged, devastated. But as the war drags on and the number of Palestinian causalities increases, the conviction I once felt on who is good and who is bad, and the rabbit warrens of complexity feel so much more uncertain and overwhelming. I've largely disengaged from social media, and while I follow news and analysis, it seems the more I read the less sure I am in what to think. I'm gutted the war has dragged on this long ... that hostages have been held underground in horrific conditions for 2 years now ... yet also I feel disbelief the anti-Zionist sentiment has become so normalised and so widespread ... that Israel has become a pariah in spite of its fundamentally fair goal of defending its existence ... but find myself also drawn to questions around proportionality, ethics and ultimately just feeling so broken by the immense loss of life, livelihoods and a sense of hope for the future for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The genocide in Gaza. It squeezes my heart so hard it hurts. I lost a friend in Israel as he blocked me for reposting about it. He believes that even the Palestinian children will grow up to join Hamas and that his children deserve to not have to run for the air raid shelter and he deserves to watch the sunset. Everyone deserves the right to health, safety and contentment. Full stop. Not one more than the other.

The genocide in Palestine has been hugely impactful. I have marched and read and talked and still my heart is broken. We try and try and yet my country has let me down, America gets scarier and scarier everyday, even from the other side of the world and it feels insurmountable. I can't stop peddling though. That wouldn't feel right.

I am almost afraid to catalog this year. After what I wrote about last year, he was re-elected. After his first day, it was downhill. I have spent a lot of time under my blanket. Today he told the army that they can practice on our cities. Israel is being run by their own tyrant. Anti-semetism, and homophobia are openly embraced. Black and brown people are being persecuted. And we haven't hit bottom yet. I am living in constant anxiety and am always depressed at how so many people are not outraged.

The aftermath of October 7, 2023 affects me daily, whether it’s yet another act of Jew-hatred in a localized area or on the world stage. I have stopped following all the social media accounts and unsubscribed from Honest Reporting, even though I support them and think what they do is very important. It became overwhelming for me and really bad for my mental health. I listen to the Times of Israel Daily Briefing podcast, and a few others (Here I Am, Unpacking Israeli History, Boundless Insights, Jewish Crossroads...) and that's been great.

Still October 7th and the genocide in Gaza…and all the hate and anti-semitism it’s causing. I think the difference from last year is just seeing the shift in the Israeli government really carrying out a genocide and it’s not making Israel or diaspora Jews any safer. All the anti semitism that I learned about my whole life happening in real time is just so hard to believe but also not surprising at all.

The Supreme Court ruling declaring (erroneously) that trans women are men has caused much fear in the trans community. Two of my partners and I have talked about whether we’ll have to leave the country. Months later, we’re still waiting to see how things play out. I don’t like the not knowing.

Fuck - the world is burning. Israel is waging genocide on Muslims in Gaza. Trump is dismantling America. Russia is still at war with Ukraine, with escalation a realistic possibility. We have idiots running all of the federal offices, appointed by Shitler. Senate Bill 1 passed in Ohio that requires all kinds of bullshit related to "controversial topics" in the classroom by politicians who have zero understanding about what actually happens in higher education. Laws protecting vulnerable populations are being dismantled in states that really need them (re: Florida, Texas, etc.). More school shootings, political violence, destruction of the Department of Education, RFK, climate change, taxes, the cost of living is astronomical, arbitrary and damaging tariffs, and worst of all, the big Cheeto is a complete disgrace everywhere he goes. He is literally a moron who can barely string a coherent sentence together. I'm exhausted from it. It's just too much hate to bear. Too much ignorance. Too much vitriol. And SO MUCH gaslighting for the "woke libs," aka people who actually care about freedom, civil rights, and supporting arguments with credible evidence. *Gasp* the audacity! Each new day I wake up to a different hellscape - a version of reality that I can't fathom. That is what it feels like to be a minority in the US in 2025. I hope that Trump's ICE-stapo doesn't come for me. I'm a citizen, but that doesn't seem to matter anymore.

The war between Israel and Hamas continued to play a big role in the world and in my personal/professional life.

Fucking Trump. Fucking tariff war. Fucking EVERYTHING. If I think about the relative peace and prosperity that I have enjoyed in my life... and then look at the blood-soaked history of the past centuries, then I can see that I got to be very lucky for a little while to be in the right place and the right time to enjoy a calm life, free of massive trauma inflicted by world events. I hate to say: who knows if I will still enjoy that luxury this time next year.

Israel relentlessly killing Palestinians and destroying Gaza. It's so awful and sad and makes me depressed and angry that anyone can think this is ok, let alone right, including many in our government who keep funding weapons for Israel. It's so horrible and it's gotten me down throughout the year. I can't imagine what people are going through.

Donald Trump's election to the presidency for a second time has been so discouraging to me and everyone who supports the rule of law. Everyday he does some new thing to undermine democracy, deepen the corruption in business and government, destablize international relation or increase hatred in the world. It is embarrassing to be American and frightening to be Jewish and elderly, and every day is filled with anxiety and frustration about not being able to see any clear path of action I could personally take to help end this debacle.

Palestine genocide. Seeing pictures of girls that can be any of my daughters starving or killed has break my heart in a new way.

the election and demise of our democracy. firings of good people ruin of CDC / health care/ medicare usaid elon musk making it so hard for good people to do good work, I grive my nation

The ongoing war in Israel has made me painfully aware how I am part of a small and hated community; and provided me with a strong sense of obligation and pride for Jews in general.

I just cannot believe the hate, sexism, and antisemitism. I'm terrified of Trump, his minions, and white Christian nationalists. I'm worried about the environment and our democracy.

Well, reading my answer from last year the world event I was most afraid of happened, Trump got elected. And it has been an absolute shit show. The genocide in Gaza, the war in Ukraine in the US the policy changes that this fucked up administration has pushed through. I've been got wrenching. The erosion of women's autonomy and rights of marginalized communities, the ice raids, alligator Alcatraz political violence. Everyone is angry, seemingly most of the time. For myself, I have tried to use my privilege as a middle-aged, white woman to speak up for those who have been marginalized, but it is overwhelming. I can only imagine what my answer will be next year to this question.

A significant experience that has affected me in the past year is the fallout from the war in Gaza and the current famine that is being perpetuated by the Israeli government. I have struggled with my conflicting feelings on this as a strong zionist but also seeing the war crimes being perpetuated with no repercussions or signs of it letting up. I will stop at calling it a genocide, but I believe that Israel has lost it's way after living with terrorism for so long that the dream of peace has tied and they no longer look at Palestinians as fellow humans. I know this is not true for all Israelis and is the current right wing government, but I fear the damage done to Israel's reputation on the world stage will make this a point of no return. It's frustrating to have so many friends who don't question anything the Israeli government does and blame any pushback from the world on "antisemitism" what happened to right and wrong and shared humanity?

I became more involved in politics than I ever have been. When Trump ran for president, I attended a virtual meeting for White women for Kamala. One woman said that we needed to speak up, because once Trump got elected, he would try to take away our voice completely and we may not get a chance to speak again. Again. So I started speaking out and posting political things on my Instagram. I actually feel better now that I am more involved in pushing for what's right. Trump was elected president. This has affected me by by reducing my hope in the world and my hope for the future. I didn't realize that one person could hurt so many people in just a few months. I knew it would be bad to have him as president, but I couldn't even imagine how bad it has turned out to be. I didn't realize that the president of the United States could literally lie to people, publish complete untruths from the White House, and get away with it. I lost respect for a lot of people in my life and unfollowed people on my social media who support Trump, because I don't want that hate in my life. That's what Trump supports - hate. This year I even went to a rally, and that made me feel really good because even though Trump is still president, I did something and said something and I saw that there were many other people that agree with me.

The actions of our current administration have been frightening. I don't want to say that "our side is better" and "their side is horrible", because I don't necessarily feel that way. This country in general has a lot of issues that require less of the extremes we have been subjected to over the past several years. There are things that definitely need to be fixed, but the methods that are being used now are irresponsible and short sighted. I am a research scientist- contractor with NASA, and I have been experiencing first-hand the anxiety and hopelessness that has been needlessly put on government agencies. It has been a constant 'I don't know what's going to happen", "I may or may not have a job by the end of the year", "There are no funding sources available anymore for me to continue my research", "What are we all going to do?", etc. Those of us who dedicated our lives to science and exploration are being treated like disposable toys. I know other government agencies have experience similar things, while others have already been decimated. To make it worse, this administration insists on using inflammatory rhetoric and the media eats it all up. No one is approaching anything with a sense of practicality or compassion. It's all for show and vengeance. Even if this lasts for just a few more years, what will be left for those of us who care about science?

The US election had the realest consequence in that the safest jobs I thought possible, academia administration, government, and healthcare are all tenuous. thanks to misinformed and/or unempathetic voters a whole lot of people are suffering and lost jobs.

Trump being re-elected. Seems like the impact and reason is self-evident. But the seeming unwillingness of democtats in power to go after him baffles me. I alternate between feeling somewhat hopeless and blown away at the lack of education and empathy apparent in a huge swath of Americans .... and being hopeful that our country will somehow muddle through. In the meantime, other than protests, it's hard to know where to put time and energy ... as many in power seem to have abdicated working on behalf of the country and the American people.

Same as last year: I cannot think of a single event that has affected me - many have. The political situation/war of Israel/Gaza/West Bank is horrendous. The Russian/Putin war in Ukraine is horrible. Also awareness about white supremacy and indigenous genocide has made a difference but none has changed how I navigate daily life

The 2024 election really floored me. How it the world could we let this happen again!? We have been trying to plan our escape from this country, but it seems so daunting.

Trump getting elected again was tremendously disappointing. I still think this is survivable, but I feel like we're getting more and more divided as a country since. I'm hoping that some of the crazy bullshit he's pulled is scaring enough of the people who voted for him that they decide the democrats are a somewhat better option. The economy is "holding on", but I feel like it's about to go over the edge in a handful of months. Fingers crossed the midterm elections can stave off some of the stranglehold Trump has over Republicans and the government.

The rapid rise of fascism in the US is a daily horror show. One I haven't known how to cope with except to breathe and love my life and family more than ever.

I am disgusted by the lack of empathy toward public figures when they are hurt by violent people. It should not matter what their political ideology is: they are humans. And public response is less than human sometimes. It will be the end of us, collectively, if we don't stop this hatred, and we are doing the Devil's bidding by responding in kind.

The impact of 10/7 continues. Not much else to say. Has changed my perspective in so many ways. Definitely not MAGA, but bring back W.

I can barely muster the energy to answer this. America has gone insane and the keys are in the hands of madmen, grifters, lunatics and megalomaniacs consumed with greed and power. So. Yeah.

THE WORLD IS A SHITSHOW, and I am in fact reading this with profound disappointment in the American people like I so feared in my response last year. It's so bad and I try not to get to dwell on it, but who knows what this time next year will even bring us? I'm focused on doing what I can in our community. Someone recently shared a sentiment that the most important thing parents can do in the resistance is to raise good, kind, accepting kiddos- and that's what I'm working on.

The election of Donald Trump is the nightmare that keeps on giving! It really is awful. I remember in his first presidency, waking up every day and thinking: What fresh hell awaits us today? The constant absurdity of insane decisions really got to me. Somehow, this time it's worse! When Trump won, I told my husband that we had survived the first time and we would survive this time. Only this time, he learned how to be more effective at destroying everything I valued about the US. American institutions are being dismantled, the constant lies and petty cruelty... We are so fortunate to be in a position of personal safety (we are financially, legally, racially privileged), but emotionally it is exhausting and beyond depressing.

Every year I describe some sort of event in politics that has impacted me and how I am frustrated. This year they went after free speech. I can't imagine what rights they will go after next year. They seem to have lost the battle, but will they lose the war? The scariest thing this time was that the far right scared disney. Disney almost folded and gave up Jimmy Kimmel. When Disney is giving in to these people it's hard to try to stay in the fight and I feel like I'm just getting my ability to get back in. I'm not sure what I'm going to do but I know I need to do something.

Well fuck, I guess it’s trump again. It’s hard to really capture the deep way that constant anxiety and grief are sinking in always. Like even resting feels like a crime when there is so much to work toward, to undo, to protect. I think about people comparing this time to the rise of the nazi party— that internal clocks are tugging some to flee, are clear on that, and I wonder if mine will wake up to that alarm. Anything hopeful feels that much starker— an anti-Zionist gathering of Jews in art and queerness and mutual aid, knocking doors for zohran and his motherfucking eye dimple, getting fed a power bar by someone next to me who also had hands in zip ties. I am finding my way as a therapist, too, braiding the personal with the collective tighter all the time.

The wars in the Middle East have the most impact as far as I am concerned. It was hard to imagine 12 months ago that the Middle East would look as it does. Whilst it's impossible to predict what might happen in this volatile area, I feel more hopeful than ever that we could see an opportunity for the people in the Middle East to live in security and peace.

I'm gonna puke to read this next year, but Trump getting re-elected. I just don't understand, not at all. And b/c of all the turmoil he's caused, everyone is suffering needlessly. What gives?? Where are all the checks and balances that the Constitution were supposed to provide?? Is everyone in politics just in for the take?? I hope to read that he's dead by the time these 10Q questions come around again, seriously. And? Release the Epstein files too, jesus christ. But they won't be b/c why? It goes further than Trump. I get the feeling that the names in there are bigger, big enough to cause the financial collapse of the world - or at least, give it pause.

Trump. The war with Iran. The war in Gaza. Is there an event in the world that hasn't impacted me? I wish the timeline would have stayed on the course it seemed to be taking in the 1990s...

OMG, where do I even begin? Donald Trump's entire presidency has impacted me and many others. It's galvanized me to get more involved in activism (as referenced in my first question) The other thing that has impacted me is the genocide in Gaza. I'm horrified to see that a Jewish state is inflicting the same treatment on Palestinians as was inflicted on Jewish people. Hurt people hurt people. It's so fucking sad and horrible. There's not a direct impact on me personally, but I feel shame as an American and a Jewish-adjacent person that my people have any part in this.

ugh - let's 48 #47. I'm so nervous about impending increases to ACA and removing the subsidies that I depend on. Diagnosed with JRA at 15, I'm now into my menopause years when RA is more acute and less remission. I depend on meds and without subsidies my cocktail of 4 meds which are working well to keep me in remission will be will over $3k per month. Per Month! I do have an appointment with my ACA advisor during Sukkot, and I'm hoping that it won't be so bad. As a part-time worker, I'll never make enough to pay for my meds, let alone pay for insurance. That's not even taking account the destruction 47 has brought to the epa, climate destruction and opening more miles to coal mining, all the bullying he is doing. Just release the Epstein files please! and let me have the care that I require to stay alive.

The war in Gaza continues, and the events of Oct 7 will be have been going on for two years in a few weeks. So many young (and old) people have been murdered, some right before they were about to be rescued; at this point we believe there are still about 20 hostages still alive and more that we believe are dead but haven't been returned. But perhaps most important is that Donald Trump was reelected for a second term (with a break in between). It continues to be shocking that he managed to beat anyone; it didn't help that Biden stayed in the race far too long and Kamala Harris was a flawed if energetic opponent. A convicted felon beat honest people. Unbelievable. How do we live in a society like this?

The Presidential election. It’s clouded my life and made me fear for the future of my family and our country.

Every year I hate this question. Because it's something negative. This year it's trump being elected president again and all the subsequent things that have happened after that. The ice raids. The tariffs. the fear the immigration. the TikTok ban. The shit with vaccines that I still cannot believe we are dealing with. I cannot believe how many people are refusing vaccines or trying to limit other people's access to vaccines. I cannot believe how quickly hate became regular again, and how we keep sliding backwards. I ache for the country—every year it seems worse

Ugh. Trump was reelected and that has ruind the world, for everyone.

The combination of the ongoing slaughter of Palestinians (and Lebanese, Syrians, etc.) by Israel and supported/bankrolled by western countries, plus the Trump administration in the US unravelling any good that country did for its citizens continue to depress and enrage me. It feels like the world has collectively lost its humanity and the only people who matter are the wealthy, who seem virtually untouchable when it comes to accountability. It makes me feel small and helpless at times, but I recognize that small individual efforts can also change the world in a ripple effect. For example, this year, I wore my keffiyeh in solidarity with Palestinians as a small act of protest and allyship. It was noticed more than a few times but most significantly twice: once at Kieran's school during an arts event, when a woman approached me to thank me for wearing it -- and then she introduced herself and her husband. Their older son attends the school in Kieran's grade. She is Lebanese; her husband is Palestinian. They took a long time to get married because her parents wouldn't accept him, due to him being "stateless". We hugged as strangers and both welled up with tears. She said she feels too frightened to exercise her solidarity in this way as she feels more likely to be a victim of discrimination or violence. The next time it happened was at my Emerging Leaders Program "graduation" ceremony, where the Deputy Minister and many other senior leaders in the organization attended. The Chief Nursing Officer sat behind me and tapped me on the shoulder to say "I like your scarf" with a wink. I thanked her and later, she approached me to ask why I wear it. When I told her, she also welled up with tears, thanked me and gave me a hug. Both instances reminded me that small things DO have big impacts and can affect people positively.

The conflict in Israel continues to affect me (and everyone). I find myself very much in the middle. I’m quite disgusted with how the Jews are portrayed on the Internet and the lack of support against antisemitism from the left. However, when I’m with Olami folk, I find myself uncomfortable with how strongly most of them condemn the Palestinians and how fervently they support Israel. It feels like the advent of the internet and social media in particular has destroyed all nuance. Maybe I’m naive.

1 year, 11 months, 2 weeks and 5 days since the most brutal war has started and we are watching, live, the genocide of an entire people. This has affected me deeply as with any conflict - but with the added cruelty of seeing it being broadcasted, being shown so clearly, and nothing being done. It solidified my perception and disgust of "governments" and what they stand for, who they care about. It is appalling to see the opressed become the opressor and worst. It has divided me and my sister as well as she insists in excuse Israel. Every life is a universe and we keep seeing entire worlds being destroyed under a religious and moral disguise, but all it is is greed, money, hate, capitalism, power. I've tried to stay hopefull as you see good people protesting, taking action - but I feel hopeless about systemic change. Oh, also I am extremely proud of Brazil's democracy for convicting Bolsonaro for some of his crimes. Our democracy is new and fragile, but my people keep impressing me with their resilience and strength.

The reelection of Donald Trump hasn't impacted me in any material way yet, but it's revealed a lot to me. It's shown me how fragile American democracy is, how important civil society and actually talking to random people is, how much work it really requires to keep a functioning democracy going. It's also shown me (or at least made me think critically about) what I would do if living under a dictatorship or some sort of societal collapse. The answer, apparently, is nothing; I've largely continued with my life as I would have if Trump had not been reelected or hadn't made such strides towards consolidating power. It's a bit disturbing to realize that I won't actually make a concrete effort to protect the people and values I claim to care about. I suppose I probably will do something if/when I feel more personally threatened, but by then it could easily be too late, and there's not much morality in that approach. I am trying to do some smaller-scale things, such as becoming more comfortable talking to strangers or people with whom I might disagree about potentially political topics, but I'm not sure how much that matters.

This summer, ICE came to Los Angeles and hunted down my people. I am a Latin Jew and what I witnessed rocked my core. October 7th was devastating and the targeting of latinos made me feel like I was not welcome in my own country, the country whose military I served in. I strive to make my story one of resilience and change.

The economic crisis. My boyfriend went contractor, only for every one of his clients to immediately cut their projects. Everyone is downsizing staff and nobody feels secure in their jobs despite oil prices. I'm trying my hardest to ignore it and enjoy life while times are good, because if the crash never comes everything will have to hard reverse. Work feels completely unsustainable though, because everyone wants a lot with very little staff. I think Everyone is going through this right now.

Yikes. Everything. I've been reading and listening to lots of historical articles and podcasts, and I've come to the realization that a lot of our historical mistakes have been the result of the fragile ego of specific men in power. I also don't like that histories aren't being told from all sides - I think that knowledge diminishes fear, and we need less fear in order to heal the divisions in our country and our world. I'll just keep educating myself and doing my part in the healing.

Part of it is the hell that is going on in Gaza which is breaking so many Jewish hearts. Part of it is the hell that is going on in Israel, including those poor remaining hostages, breaking so many Jewish hearts. Part of it is the hell that is going on in this country, which is hard to believe : the ICE raids, the building of militias in cities that Trump hates, the capitulation of every check and balance, including this final indictment of James Comey. I used to joke that what is not on fire is underwater, but it feels dire, it feels somber, it feels like the end of something critical, like moral compass. The election and the resulting glee in destruction and terror and inhumanity and creating indignities wherever possible . . . It's the death of so much that's important in our common and civil world and society. Looking back, I remember hearing Timnit Gebru speak when she won an award at NISO Conference and how she traces the AI movement's genesis to the eugenics movement. Startling. Sobering. Devastating.

The war in Gaza/israel. I recognize Israel’s horrific conduct as genocide. Their strategies as war crimes, that will forever stain the peoples of the Middle East. This led me to understand that I am not a Zionist. The Judaism I practice is a religion of the Diaspora. That is where our religion, practices and beliefs have developed over thousands of years. The State of Israel is not my shelter, it does not protect me, it has done and truly can do nothing to protect Jews throughout the world who are subjected to living through the horrors of dictatorships and fasicism.

So many world events that are having a big and negative impact. The first being Trump and his MAGAt death cult dismantling the federal government as I have known it and attempting to convert our democracy into a cruel authoritarianism. The second being the ongoing genocide by Israel with US support against Gaza and the war in Ukraine - senseless death and destruction. Both are devastating large groups of people through systematic dehumanization and serve as a reminder that history and past mistakes have taught leaders nothing.

Trump becoming president changed my whole life. My husband quit his job (he was a US federal worker who saw the writing on the wall) , we sold our house, and we moved across country to be close to my parents. My children go to different schools and have different friends. d I'm working full time for the first time in many years. I'm very happy and don't regret any of those changes. I still wish Trump wasn't president though.

Charlie Kirk's death. It makes me feel extremely sad that we are where we are in the world and people can just do that so easily.

The multiple assassination attempts on people I agree with has me moving away for politics and back to God and family. The rise in anti-semitize is also horrible.

The war in Gaza is still raging and antisemitism is through the roof. While there are still 48 hostages, only 20 of them are thought to be alive and some of them, judging by photos that Hamas has released, are close to death through starvation and lack of medical care. Every joyous holiday and special occasion is diminished and some days are almost unbearable. We are almost at the two year anniversary of 10/7 and I pray that ALL the hostages will be returned before that so that we all may began the healing process.

Trump's presidency is certainly terrifying. He's not a good man, and the wealth he is creating for his family and friends is a staggering reminder of how selfish people can be. The environment and our collaboration with other nations seem to be suffering irreparable harm. It makes me afraid, and a little bit... "nothing matters and it will all fall apart". Especially as we teeter closer to the edge of U.S. losing global standing... makes me aware of the possibility of resources becoming scarce... my lifestyle having to change a little or a lot in response. I hope I can retire comfortably some day.

Finally the world is unable to ignore, deny, or excuse what Israel is doing in Gaza and finally, finally, the leaders of my community are beginning to break rank and confront the truth head-on. Watching the wisest and bravest people I know say nothing in the face of genocide because of the identity of its perpetrators has really alienated me from my community - and thus from my Judaism. This last few months have convinced me that I do in fact have a place here. Of course none of this is important compared to the enormous and inhumane suffering the Palestinian people have been subjected to. But from my own purely selfish view, I am glad to see my community leaders finally speaking up and joining the fight for Palestinian liberation wholeheartedly. Although it is shameful that it has taken so long.

The horrid trump destroying democracy as we know it

Trump. Need I say more. He is a Nazi racist scum bag that cheated his way into his job and has made our country into a demoralized cesspool. He needs to go. We need to do better as a nation. He has taken away jobs and made our economy and way of life so expensive most people including myself cannot afford. He is a terrible human being. I lost my job because business has taken a down turn. I blame him for everything.

10/7 continues to have an impact. There’s a rise in antisemitism, no longer confined to a small few haters. Now it’s almost all out, like the Nazis married with Soviet Communism and Radical Islam and had a kid together. They’re using all the tropes, mixed and remade and are hunting us in all sorts of moments and places. It’s like a collective paranoia fuelled by social media and Hamasholes useful idiots being their mouthpieces in the west. I’ve lost friends, battled with wider family members who aren’t jews, hid in the middle of crowds and international events and even faced blatant antisemitism by people who were supposed to be mentors in academia. But I’m more Jewish than ever before, to the point that even my non-religious family has started to return to.

The war in Gaza. It has gone on so long and been so terrible. I'm not Jewish, although a few years ago I discovered I probably have some Jewish ancestry - Sephardic - an ancestor who came to the UK from Switzerland from Holland, and reading about that made me realise what it must have been like for the first Israelis to feel that they were finally establishing a home for Jews, who had been so frequently forced to leave countries in Europe or to assimilate in order to live, as presumably my ancestor chose to do. It appalls me that this was something they felt they had to do, because of that awful European history particularly the events leading up to World War II and the Holocaust, and that was condoned by other governments at the time - taking land from an already existing country to take a new one. The whole history is very messed up, and the present, well, that follows the past. I just don't understand how people can be so violent, so cruel. It feels like revenge, but the people of Palestine are not Hamas, so many of them are children, and they should be able to grow up safely.

The election this year stirred up so much fear, but instead of letting it overwhelm me, I chose to respond differently. I’ve tried to be grounding for my students and community, showing up with more compassion and curiosity, and shifting my workshops toward building bridges rather than deepening divides. At home, our family has taken small but meaningful action, like providing housing for women traveling to Colorado for treatment through Planned Parenthood. And alongside that, influenced by both the election and reading The Anxious Generation, I deleted social media from my phone. That decision has allowed me to be more present with real life instead of caught up in the noise of technology. What could have been paralyzing has instead given me a reminder to put my energy into purpose, not fear.

Charlie Kirk's martyrdom/assassination has brought about a hightened awareness and awakening for people in an age when many folks are drowning out the voice of God with all manner of distractions, diversions, and disparaging views of others... Also, the End Times has had more attention, which has brought a revival of sorts, a return to the study and urgency of eschatology. I am enthused about the return of Christ, whether or not it happens during my earthly lifetime; and I also find myself conflicted, because I have been experiencing the Lord in new ways in recent years - ways I hope continue and crescendo. May the Lord utilize my life, however-many days that includes, to bless and strengthen others and to point them to His mercy and grace while there is still time to do so.

I'm still feeling the impact of the Oct 7 attack on Israel, though perhaps I should say I'm feeling the repeated impacts of how the Israeli government is choosing to respond. I hear it in the news almost daily. I see increased atmospheres of antisemitism. I wrestle with my own relationship to Israel and how hurt I am to see its leaders behave in such a deplorable way.

The republican administration including the destruction of the federal government which includes reduction of seasoned employees, ridding the government of experienced workers, meaning the percentage of institutional knowledge lost is greater than the raw numbers reflect. The veering towards fascism is startling and scary. We are now siding with our enemies, meaning countries that are not democracies run by so-called strong men and declaring war on our own cities.

Hurricane Helene affected our mountain area in Western NC. Hurricanes usually do not reach us in the mountains because by the time they arrive here, they are only bad storms. This past year (2024) however, the storm caused major damage rerounting the course of our rivers, killing hundreds of people and animals, and rendering many homeless.

It’s hard to point to one specific world event this year, because it feels like chaos, division, and tragedy are everywhere. From shootings to wars to constant instability, the weight of it all can feel overwhelming. But what it’s really done for me is deepen my reliance on Jesus. I’m reminded that the true battle has already been won, and that our purpose here isn’t about securing wins on an earthly level but about living out faith, hope, and love in a broken world. In the midst of paranoia and instability, I’ve found gratitude — for Micah, for Madison Grace, for our community, for the stability of family. Those things remind me where real strength comes from. I can’t control what’s happening in the world, but I can choose to be anchored in faith and to bring light where I am.

Trump and the fall of democracy. Stressed beyond belief and so sad for my friends and neighbors. It's awful watching ICE thugs drag people away. I feel helpless in the face of all this.

Fucking Trump and his fucking cult are destroying the world. It is worse than I could ever have imagined would happen in my lifetime. And so many still supporting it. Troops in cities, neighbors being rounded up, concentration camps, threats to the left, control of the media. It's insane.I don't even need to describe it because I know. But maybe if anyone reads this they will know which side I was on.

The orange fuckmuppet regained the White House, delaying criminal charges until the end of his term or his death, whichever comes first. It's not just that he's reprehensible, but he surrounds himself with incompetent liars. We're mostly OK, but have, until our move, lived in a neighborhood with Mexican and Chinese immigrants, and the pervasive fear of our neighbors combined with an attempt to stifle the first amendment has made it hard to continue the activism I've done since my teens. Mind you, I'm doing it, but it's just harder, and quite frankly, after decades working for women's rights in particular, it's exhausting that we're not back before I started as a teen.

Trump, Trump, Trump. He is everything I expected and more. The most brazen, semi-senile, partisan, incurious hack we've ever had. I feel humiliated as an American, witnessing his almost daily public embarrassments.

The inauguration and presidency of Donald Trump has been a major world event - in so many ways - and impacted or created other world events in catastrophic ways. Just as I mentioned last year: the Russian-Ukrainian war persists, the Gaza-Israel conflict has continued and resulted in thousands of deaths and massive starvation, the war within our country on immigrants has increased and made being an 'other' in the US an even scarier place to be. I don't know how we're going to recover from this election and its effects, including the massive layoffs of federal workers, the halting of millions of dollars in research funding, and the investigation into and defunding of higher ed. These will all have long-term consequences, and I'm afraid what world we're building here.

The ongoing wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, etc are all a waste of human potential and depressing. It makes me question why do I bother with anything.

The election of Donald Trump has impacted a whole lot of people. It has changed the world I live in. Although I believe that brought a great deal of harm (of which we may not have seen the worst, it may have brought one good: being able to see more clearly that America has never been the benign nation it presents itself as. Which is not to say that it has not also done a lot of good.

President Chaos took office again. I had no idea how quickly our government could be dismantled. The React19 documentary left me feeling like both political parties betrayed me, are continuing to do so, and would do it again. I can’t believe we reached a point where people can be scooped up off the street. I feel culpable by trying to get through my days rather than standing outside and screaming, or taking other action on a very regular basis. I feel disconnected from the world. I don’t understand how people think this is better. I don’t understand the hate. I had hoped we might get dragged before the International Criminal Court for human rights violations until they learned that we never signed on and therefore weren’t subject to the ICC.

Just wow. The world feels like it’s an actually falling apart right now—I don’t know where to start. Trump is dismantling our democracy, Israel is committing genocide, and immigrants are being rounded up. There’s no way to overstate it. It’s made it really tempting to tune out but I’m trying my best not to, and to do small things to help.

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN.

Trump taking office. He and his people want to see my queer community eradicated, immigrants disappeared, women and people of color silenced. He is laying the groundwork for even bigger and scarier moves in the future. He allies himself with other dictators, further minimizing the chances that other countries dare to intervene in the U.S., Ukraine, or Palestine.

The slide into fascism that our country is taking is frightening on a lot of levels. It hasn't affected me the way it has many people, but it's horrifying to watch and I'm scared for how things are going. The uncertainty, especially while I'm trying to take care of my mother and shelter her from the worst of it, is incredibly stressful and I'm feeling guilty for putting her needs first and not getting out into the streets to protest.

The election of D. Trump has impacted me. I cant see how anyone who would vote for this man. He has shown the public who he is, but the people still voted for him. I'm worried our Country is headed for disaster within our Country. I'm seriously thinking of leaving the Country because I dont agree with the policies of this administration and dont agree with the people who support him.

An event that had a great impact throughout this last year, I would have to think on this. Since relevancy bias is a thing, I would go with the Charlie Kirk assassination, and my viewpoint is similar to last year. Everyone has an opinion and no one is completely right, and we are all figuring it out as we go along. It is easier to blame than to understand the other side's perspective, or to belittle them as well.

October 7th, 2023. My life in Israel and as a Jew has forever been impacted by this date (for whatever that means). I'll expand on this later.

Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities. This meant we were at war during my mom's Shiva, and so many people who would have otherwise paid us a shiva call, especially from further away, didn't come. 48 hostages are still in Gaza. - Two of my favorite professors, Aryeh Kurtzweill and Meir Eshel passed away this year

The war, it’s always the fucking war either the war, Ukraine, the invasion of Russia, but it still hurts and my friends are hurt and then the war in Israel but I think the Ven that impacted me the most worse the murder of the bibas children. I was at a time with my ex in Colombia with my dad and the plane was too deep. There was another event that affected me and back to me the personal level and he’s there the war with Iran that the red plans we had for the summer since then everything went downhill. It kind of sucks that the distance in the world to come.

Trump has impacted me with Tariffs and by adding to the world's fearful and aggressive mindset. It's worrying to be an expat in a world of increasing xenophobia.

Trump is president. Every day is terrifying and another horror He has ruined what America stood for. He promotes hate and greed and violence. Our democracy is at risk. I am a glass half full person by nature but can’t find hope with him and all that follow him and believe all his constant lies.

I want to answer this question with more good news. We tried, now we have to try to get through 4 years of these horrible assholes with most of our people and systems in tact. It sucks, you can never do enough and everything one does to help matters so much, and feels like so little.

Where do I start? The descent into authoritarian facism in the US is scary Ticking off project 2025 https://www.project2025.observer/en also terrifying The loss and rollback of so much progress The state of the job market The state of what they are doing to healthcare How many people are dead, dying or will die as a result How many years it will take to recover from this, how perhaps some things like climate change we may get past the point we can recover Finding out how many people just do not care Finding out how very ignorant so many people are But there is no choice but to keep trying to live, and help who you can

The armageddon taking place in the promised land, the level of conflict in the world, the rise of nationalisms. It kills joy, it clouds hope, it ignites fear.

Donald Trump being President again and making everything terrible. No one wants to be in a place that has a dying democracy and growing authoritarianism.

Certainly the 2024 pres election was impactful. More so than I thought it would be. Yet it didn’t seem to impact me personally (yet). I still have my job, I still have my family, things are more expensive and everyone I know is more anxious. But the day and day out of my life hasn’t changed. Maybe a little harder to connect to gratitude than last year but I’m still working at it.

The biggest impact has been realising that Israel is doing to the Palestinians what the Nazis did to the Jews. First they tried to get rid of them and when they couldn’t they killed them. Just like Israel is making Gaza impossible to live in. I get the threat Israel lives under but that is no excuse. There has to be a better way than turning into what you hate. It is SO AWFUL that many people I know just won’t discuss it anymore - what is the point? Us voicing our myriad opinions just fractures the community and causes more pain. I hate Netenyahu for doing this to us.

The ascendance of American fascism. Every day brings new horrors. The stupidity and cruelty is staggering.

Trump being President, creating a chaotic mess of our government. He has no respect for the rule of law and no moral compass. He is wielding power that is unchecked. It has eroded my sense of security and trust in my government. I’m afraid of how deep all of this will affect the democratic foundation of our government. I have a constant level of anxiety and fear for our country’s future.

Insert Pedro Pascal gif of him laughing until he starts crying here.

Hasn't this whole year (since November, at least) been "an event"? I weep for the decades of progress that have been upended, the immeasurable harm that this farce of a government has wreaked on so many of us. I'm angry and anxious and afraid. I no longer have a clue as to what my 2 year old daughter's future will look like -- so very many important things have been disemboweled, interrupted, or just plain thrown away that it's impossible to predict what life will be like for ANY of us even a week into the future. I'm disgusted. But I have to hold onto that glimmer, that echo of hope that somehow we'll overcome this deluge and come out the other side still whole. Because fuck that guy. We're better than that.

Trump is all over the place. People are labeling him a king. There have been many protests around the country again saying “no kings”. He’s alienating every country, and going back-and-forth with being pals with Russia and hating them. We want to help Ukraine; we don’t wanna help Ukraine, we wanna help them. That’s where he flip-flops a lot. He’s been firing a ton of people and getting rid of his enemies, just like a dictator. I am really trying to trust God and not think of him wielding all that power in such a terrible way. He tried to get rid of Medicare, which basically say Victor‘s life in 2011. He’s got everyone on edge about what he’s gonna do next. We are all afraid for democracy. But today in church, we were talking about forgiveness. God gave me a vision of Trump and then showed me how he is above Trump, and in fact, all the leaders of the world. So He is lifted high above the heavens!

The genocide in Gaza. I have a new baby and the violence against children makes me sob uncontrollably and I feel utterly helpless. Why are humans capable of such atrocity?

Well, hell, there is nothing bigger than Donald Trump taking oath this year in January and the horrible mess he's making of our country. Not more to say except I hope next year's this time he is no longer the president.

The events in Israel and Gaza caused me to learn a lot more than I anticipated and to also grieve deeply all of the suffering and heartbreak.

Ugghhhhh. tRUMP has begun a second term as dictator and we are descending into fascism, authoritarianism, just pure evil. It's almost not possible to think about how we get through 3 1/2 more years. We are tumbling into descent so rapidly and yet we've only been embroiled in our losses of freedom, dignity, and darkness for nine months. I don't have a lot of hope that this can be turned around. We have slid so far backwards. He is surrounded by horrible people, some unqualified, some filled with hate and loathing for the other, and an insatiable need for personal power and gain who are doing everything possible to shake us to our core. Besides going to marches there is little I personally can do except speak out. But in this climate that is scary, especially as a Jew considering the anti-semitism and pervasive hatred.

The rise of authoritarinism in the United States. It's hard to believe it hasn't even been a year. I spend a lot of time figuring out how to compartmentalize, how to stay informed without losing hope; how to invest in my community and stand up where I can without losing sight of larger implications. It's a hard time.

The contemptible and cruelly provocative behavior of our country’s leadership delivers daily outrage. How to remain adequately informed without having life driven by motives and individuals who do not deserve my attention? We are all different, and I believe it is ok to handle this question as one see fit for oneself.

Since Labour won the general election last year, I've pretty much unplugged from politics and the daily news cycle. I don't know if many events in the world do impact me directly. But I guess one thing is that when Trump cut US funding of the UN, this had a knock-on effect on one of my clients, UNAIDS. My contact there is leaving in March next year and, although we had approval for quite a large budget, I've hardly heard from them at all this year. It's quite sad, but I don't mind that much. I've got plenty of work elsewhere. I listened to Peter Frankopan's "The New Silk Roads: The Present and Future of the World". This helps me put things like the Israel-Gaza situation into context and realize that this sort of shite has been going on for thousands of years and will continue, no matter how much we oh-dear about it. It's made me realize that power (and money) has shifted east. Wars are, sadly, a natural part of the human cycle. They're going to happen. I just wish they didn't happen with weapons that we developed and sold all around the world. Another thing that springs to mind, and which I think has only happened in the last 12 months, is that the government has introduced a VAT on private school fees, which has had a big impact on Fran's ability to fundraise. It's also causing some fee-paying schools to close down and merge. This doesn't affect me, but it affects Fran. I agree with the principle of the policy: make the rich pay more tax. I just don't think it was fully thought through or consulted before it was implemented. It is also having knock-on effects that might not have been envisaged. Wouldn't it be easier just to increase income tax and spend more time and effort trying to collect taxes from the rich rather than allowed them to dodge and move money around to exploit loopholes?

The Israel-Hamas war has changed my willingness to engage in synagogue activities. I'm just uncomfortable being around people with unwavering support for Israel or those who believe that a Jewish state is central to Jewish practice. I've also become less comfortable publicly discussing being Jewish, since I feel like people make assumptions about what I believe. It doesn't feel safe to be Jewsish. I have never experienced that before, even though I know that at least historically being Jewish has never been safe.

Women losing their right to basic healthcare in red states is something that made me lose faith in men governing. I no longer believe that the majority of men can be trusted to prioritize women. I include many democrats I know in this because they did not make this their #1 priority in their voting record either. When you lose that base faith in people, it affects everything.

Obviously the US presidential election. Last year, I wrote, "I am allowing myself to feel cautious optimism that perhaps, just maybe, this country will do the right thing." I would be laughing at my naivete if it was so obscenely tragic. Every prior year in my 10Q answers I wrote about the feeling of foreboding, that bad times are coming, and I allow myself to feel optimism on the eve of this country's descent into the hellscape we have barely begun. Every fear about my daughter's future and my ability to protect her from the monsters who see her as less than are coming into being.

Election of Donald Trump. The entire world is upended. My concept of our country is under attack, and even if we emerge from this authoritarian fantasy of our elected president, I don't know if we'll ever get back to being a country that values the rule of law within my lifetime.

I mean, Trump becoming presidnet again and what is happening in the United States has been horrifying. It has shown me how fragile our world is and susceptible society is to falling into chaos through division and anger. I cant help but feel this is the inclination for humanity as a whole. I am efforting to use this as a sign that it is important for me to live beautifully and kindly moving forward. It is the only reaction that will save my well being and do the most for the people around me.

Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while peacefully expressing his views. Very sad the outbreak of mentally unstable people and accessibility of guns currently, I pray that the stigma of mental illness decreases, and it becomes more common place for people to get the necessary therapy, medication, and support from those around them increases. I also pray that gun laws become more practical and people who have a propensity for mental illness, have less opportunity to access guns, and that the people who have guns appropriately keep them secured

The American people spoke and that utter cretin called Trump got a second term. I’m incredulous at these people who seem so lovely are also so fucking stupid. The moron has caused global economic chaos with his tariffs and he will he won’t he arbitrary decision-making. He’s deploying the military to democratic towns to protect them from themselves. And there is a question as to whether he would accept defeat in the next election, or even if there will be another election. The entire judiciary process is bowing to this nappy wearing fiend. And it’s a hard to pill to swallow because as I sit here in Texas, the mothership of Republican moronism, it’s hard to calibrate. The people here are so nice and yet they are full of hate and anti-women religious zealousness. What can you do? One just has to brace oneself and try to write it out hoping for better times.

Comedians getting targeted directly or indirectly by Donald Trump underscores my belief that we are back in a time of fascism and that many people prefer to have their heads in the sand about it. It makes me concerned for democracy, especially the situation of women.

Trump 2.0: The Authoritarian Regime. I had such hope a year ago. Now I'm more cautious. The world is angry and fighting, and I don't see an end to it yet. Not to mention the exponential growth of global antisemitism and the demonization of Israel. #BringThemHomeNow

Trump taking office and watching the entire Republican party roll over rather than representing their constituents and the Constitution.

Fuck the Repugnicans and their tawdry idol. I am terrified, furious, and depressed.

The trump presidency. I feel for the farmers who largely voted against their own interests and now have no where to sell their crops. I've seen the core of our constitution eroded, stepped on and crapped on as business cow tows to a deranged president. The damage F-47 has done will go on for years. The USA is not the place I chose to serve rather than havinng gone to Canada. I would have made a different decision if we were to fold back time and the present situation was what I considered when drafted.

Fuckin Trump. He sucks in every way. A bringer of destruction and chaos. May we survive the way he has worked to tear this global reality apart. Blessings to us all.

Trump’s second term. I can’t describe how miserable it was to watch the country turn red on election night. I took it so personally—like nobody cares if I live or die, as a woman or a queer person. And then the months of both absorbing others’ stress and navigating who I could share mine with…followed by the inauguration and endless parade of disgraces since. It’s affected my work only in terms of what I now study and how many students deferred or declined admission to our PhD program. I’m grateful for that.

It's probably the continuing war in Gaza. Over the last year, it turned from something where we could still defend Israel's actions to one where they have become indefensible. That's hard for us, as Jews who love Israel. It's hard for us as Jews because people conflate all Jews with supporting the policies. It's because our heart still breaks for both the hostages and the Gazans.

The US Election is the main one. This cannot be overstated. My heart is broken seeing so many people knowingly vote for him. I had hoped that more people would stand up against him and defend the principals of democracy and our constitution even against someone "from their side." But it hasn't happened. The damage done to our nation will already take decades to fix. And here's the thing. Even assuming he's out of office at the end of this term (still likely), the people who voted him in still live here. If they were willing to vote him in, who will they elect next? How will we manage the people appointed throughout the government by him? I don't know whether this is a country I want my kid to grow up in. Where will it be when he's an adult? Will it be a good place to live? Should we move now?

There are so many.Right now, the genocide in Gaza and the use of the navy to blow up small fishing vessels in the waters bordering Venezuela are the most horrific. The commission of war crimes and the wholesale murder of innocents are unbearable and thus far unstoppable abominations. I am desperate to act and helpless in my despair.

I took over my own finances in March and it has been challenging but also extremely affirming. There are several phases of my life where I have felt incomplete as an adult, and it is nice to chisel away at that feeling and gradually leave it behind as I continue to grow out of these familiar feelings of incompleteness around certain topics.

Everything. There is no one event to point to - right now, policies are being made, systems are being torn down, and it feels like I am walking a tightrope all the time personally and professionally. "Why" is the most important part of the question, and the one that I wish I could answer. There seems to be such a division between the world I live in and the world the majority of the country lives in.

The continuation of the genocide in Gaza. A day doesnt go by where I dont think about this and the ability of Israel to get away with it. It has sickened me how America can continue to support Israel in this manner especially and it breaks my heart to see the numbers killed and starved to death, especially the children left without parents and children killed

The continuing war in Ukraine & Israrl. Depressing news with little hope for peace. Our son’s activism anti Zionist

The election of Trump has made me frustrated and feeling hopeless.

The election of Donal Trump has been painful, depressing, and alarming! He is breaking laws, grifting, and getting the go ahead from his Republican accomplices.

Fuck Trump being elected. Period. How can this be a real thing? The mere thought of it paralyzes me, unfortunately.

Ah hahahahahahahahahahahaha Donald Trump has fucked everything up so badly. I don't know where to start or stop answering this question, so I'm gonna say "pass."

Well there's the obvious answer - the installation of Trump and subsequent turn to fascism of what was once one of Canada's closest allies. It's depressing and disappointing, but the one lining of silver is that it saved us from electing Pierre which had previously been an almost certainty. Carney's not perfect but at least he's an adult and more than just Noun the Verb and hatred like Pierre.

I don’t feel as poetic about this in 2025. How are we still in this genocidal war? How did Trump get elected President again? How are we staring at blatant fascism in America? How on earth are Zionists still excusing what’s happening in their name? Worse than that, though, is that I’m no longer depressed and obviously numb; now I’m genuinely numb and my responses to the genocide, while still morally in the right place, obviously, have become so deadened that I am able to go about my life as if the genocide is not occurring, most of the time. I watch TV. I laugh with friends. I enjoy good food. Periodically I remember to be grateful that I am in Australia where no one is dropping bombs on me; where I have food because there is no siege; where I have a home on stolen land because my grandparents and great-grandparents were welcomed to this country by illegal settlers and then worked hard to make money and buy homes, wealth that they have passed on to me. In my best moments, I am very aware that I am in no better position as a descendant of illegal settlers than the Israelis I criticise. I’m not personally bludgeoning the indigenous people whose land we stole, but I am benefiting from the bludgeoning that was done in the frontier wars. The Israelis inside of ’48 are the same as me. The Israelis in ’67 and in the West Bank are just in the frontier war itself. It’s all morally repugnant. So what do I do about that? What does ‘land back’ genuinely look like when I’m not suggesting settlers ‘go back where they came from? (Well — at least not us, and not the residents in ’48… — see how appalling these rationalisations become?) But seriously — what is justice in these circumstances, here in so-called Australia and there in Palestine? As I said last year, I don’t want to live in a nation built on other people’s bones. We must work together for a world without borders where all of us can be free together.

Trump coming into power again. Dismantling the government, feeling more and more like the rise of Nazi germany. Makes me seriously wonder if I should maybe look to move but I love it in NYC and can’t afford it, don’t know how I’d earn money anywhere else

The election of the orange turd as head jackass has been hugely disappointing. Everyday it's another new low of horrible and illegal behavior. The world is slipping into fascism and I fear for my son's and all young people's futures.

All the antisemitism has kind of messed up my head for obvious reasons. I'm an LA jew so I've never experienced it before, especially on the left and in such massive numbers. Sure, we've always had the neo nazis… But the masses thought they were a bunch of jerks and the majority of people had our backs. I'm not so sure anymore. To keep myself from doom spiraling… I'm trying not to watch the news and I deleted my social media from my phone so if I wanna go on it I really have to make a big effort. It's really helped me not get caught up in the psychological warfare which is social media. Because to be honest… I don't experience antisemitism on a day-to-day basis. It's what I see online.

The conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and the India-China border. It keeps making me wonder why peace and cooperation seem so challenging to reach.

Obviously, the Israel-Hamas war. Very sad. Israel is being accused of genocide of Palestinians. I don't believe this is true. The whole thing is confusing.

The election of Trump is devastating to our country. I’ve never felt more like I’m living through history.

Israel's aggression. Russia's aggression. Europe's (relative) passivity & disorganization. The United State's irresponsibility and cruelty. Sending refugees in the US to SUDAN!?! The El Salvador horrific incarceration of US refugees? The disappearing of university students? In history, I am sure this will be marked as the beginning of a great global war. I am despondent to be of witness.

All of it. I am quite withdrawn right now. I just don't want to participate in the theatrics of it all. I'm deeply saddened that humanity is in the place it is. I know there is a new horizon off in the distance that will be a much better place for us all - though it's going to take some time, patience, diligence and effort. I have entirely tuned out all of the psyops and false flag events, because it's all by design and is a major tension control mechanism. If you know, you know. Hence why I've opted out - and I pray that as many humans as possible also decide to do the same. If we don't participate, it won't work ;-) And by it, I mean - the capturing of our souls via spiritual warfare. Don't fall for it.

Continuing this thread from September 2024, the (latest) most consequential election of our lifetimes sure was a doozy, eh? (BTW, to anyone who called me alarmist back then... FUCK YOU.) My worst fears are unfolding at blazing speed. Continuing this thread from September 2024, the Democrat party establishment is absolute trash. They are not taking this shit seriously enough because they are entirely too comfortable with the billionaires. This is all so fucked up. Now the regime has named "antifa" a terrorist organization. They are murdering people on boats in international waters and calling them terrorists too. Meanwhile ICE is terrorizing people, and concerned bystanders who try to intervene are being arrested for assault. And the "Secretary of War" just summoned all the generals to Quantico in an apparently unprecedented (and stupid) move that no one thinks will lead to good things. Fascism is here. Now. Today. We live in a police state. The mad king is trying to consolidate power. And yet. Scholars I trust are saying the tide turned this week —that the sleeping giant is, at long last, stirring. (First, I gotta say: what the fuck took so long, ya jackass? It wasn't the suspension of due process or Alligator Alcatraz or parking lot kidnappings or all the RAPE??? It took a white comedian getting canceled for all of three days to disrupt your beauty sleep? WTF???) Better late than never, I suppose. Wakey, wakey motherfucker. I will admit, at this precarious moment in the American Experiment, I have so little faith in my fellow Americans. We never should've even gotten in this mess. It's hard to believe we'll get it together to find our way out sometimes. I've often said I love humanity but hate people. I guess that's where my faith lies... with humanity. My brain is freaked, my gut is nauseated, and my heart still — quite possibly, stupidly — still believes that most people want the same simple blessings in life, for themselves and for everyone else. I hope we can come through for each other.

See answer to question #1 lol. It has led me to think about the future and what it could look like if I moved to Israel. I'd have to rethink the course of my career, it's making me consider pursue furthering my education, and I'd have to figure out how to get my cat to come with me. It's made me rethink my current financial situation and what I need to change if I were to pursue living in Israel within the next few years. I'm also thinking about friendships and family, and what it would be like to move away from them. Emotionally, an event occurred close to home and it just reconfirms underlying fears of being a woman in this society. A girl got murdered on the lightrail in an untargeted attack and it made nationwide news, and I feel like not enough is being done to prevent further incidents like this and it worries me. It reminds me that anything can happen anywhere, unfortunately. But also a reminder to be vigilant and not to let you guard down in public. A few days later, Charlie Kirk was assassinated in the most horrific way. I was never a fan by any means, but it makes me question where the US is heading in terms of violence and the political landscape.

It's not one event: it's the unfolding destruction of a functional federal government, the abandoning of democracy, and policy decisions rooted in racism, misogyny, bigotry, corruption, and unhinged greed. Am I being paranoid for thinking we might need to leave the country? Or being delusional for wondering if it will be ok to stay? What is the accurate level of danger we're in? The election was horrifying.

I can't think of a single event that is impacting me but it seems like a whole bunch of small things really get to me. I think it is my mouth breathing that is what is really making me anxious. Feeling anxious just brings on more things to be anxious about.

Having a madman as an elected President has caused untold harm to millions and caused me pain, frustration, alarm and sometimes fear. But I refuse to let him and his unqualified band of sycophants bring me down. I pray that the tide will turn soon. There are a few signs that it is.

Antisemitic events continued this year and it has continued being draining. Then Charlie Kirk was killed, in a horrible manner. I had no idea who he was before that day, and while I don’t agree with many of his views (at least with some of the things he seemed to say), I think it’s horrible that he was killed for saying what he thought. He sought dialogue which I think is very valuable and many people do not even try to engage in that.

Just one? There's so many. And so many of them are just iterations if the same event. I'm trans. And I live in a country which is using bigoted transphobic groups to back up government-approved segregation. It's becoming illegal for me and my trans family to exist in public in so many places right now. I'm sad. I'm furious. I'm exhausted. We've seen it coming and veen told we're overreacting or insane, and everything is now happening as predicted. And sure lots of cis people are suddenly caring but, like, where was this for the last decade? Before it became convenient for you to jump up abd shout Trans Rights (usually without bothering to follow-up and do anything else)? But ai can't say Fuck You to all kf those people because we need them. Because we are a tiny percentage of people, with 80% of politics being pressed doen on us, so we need every voice. Even the hypocrites Even the ones who are only doing it to publicly Show They Care or because they hate the current government so they'll push back in anything. And still almost every newspaper is wroting anti-trans pieces, occasionally with an "Oh no the poor transes!" piece in there so they can pretend they balanced it out somehow. And the comment sections are all full of ignorant assholes where the nicest ones are those going "but we just don't want you to shove it in our faces 🤷 why does it matter? 🥰". I don't hate being trans. It's who I am. But I hate what it means and I hate never knowing whether every new person I meet is going to be a transphobe, and to what level. It is any wonder I'm terrified of going outside? I'm a privileged trans person compared to most but still the outside world hates me, and I refuse to hide my transness and make it easier for myself, because nobody should have to. But some do have to, so I can't.

This year has been chaos. So many things happening at once at the local, state, national, and international levels that it’s difficult to stay informed. And when I try to stay informed, it gets overwhelming. To try to pinpoint one event is difficult, because my answer today could be overshadowed by something that happens tomorrow - it’s impossible to predict. It’s the year of instability and uncertainty. It’s the year of stress and watching the slow slide into something I never expected to see. You know the phrase, “may you live in interesting times?” Who cursed us that we’re living in interesting times. I yearn for calm and stability, but I don’t foresee that any time soon.

it feels like the conservative push to consolidate power in the executive branch, impede on free speech, and take away civil rights is overwhelming my sense of what is real. It makes me feel like we're slowly devolving into McCarthyism red scare black list shit. The political violence and school shootings are looming large in my mind.

Fuck Trump! He has taken away so many rights. We are scared.

The continued growth of fascism in the United States. Making certain that my passport is up to date. Considering whether I need to move to a blue state or out of the country.

the famine in Gaza and Israel's failure of leadership. it's made me question myself and my relationship with Israel. it feels like the elected leaders are too focused on getting Hamas out, WHICH IS ENTIRELY NECESSARY, but the humanitarian piece is disappearing rapidly and I don't like that. I'm even rethinking my BDS stance (used to be not for it) because of this...

well. its still the genocide in Palestine. its maddening to witness in a way that feels shameful to try to even put into words. its also awful to witness other people’s fucking unhinged reactions to it. i feel like im going insane. its been another year of feeling isolated in grief, but now im even more estranged from the local jewish community. just witnessing whats happening. we need to tear the world apart and make it into something completely different.

OMG. the rise of fascism in the US. I am terrified. As a queer Jew, it's just a matter of time until they come for me.

Political violence has dominated the news, as well as the Israel-Hamas war. From Michigan Democrat politician shot and killed at her home, healthcare executive shot and killed in NYC and then Christian MAGA youth leader killed at Utah university rally. Noticing more who of my acquaintances are standing with, via social media, MAGA killed person. Hard to speak out or counter when it's a tragedy that someone died. The Christian MAGA leader spoke negatively and harmfully about many of my identities. When is it okay, is it ever okay, to celebrate the death of someone that opposed you so much?

election of Donald Trump

The world is a mess, but I think we say that often. The most impactful has to be Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods. Like most Canadians, I find myself avoiding things made or grown in US. I am becoming shamefully patriotic towards Canada, as are many Canadian. And then I worry that such patriotism can lead to its own problems.

The election of Donald Trump as president has begun to tear apart our society like nothing else in my lifetime. He is destroying our democracy and our relationships with other nations. At the same time, Netanyahu is destroying Israel and its reputation by continuing to fight this war in Gaza and attacking the West Bank. It has led to a spread of antisemitism throughout the world.

ANOTHER years of trump tyranny and incompetence, and people going along with it, like everything is fine. It's terrible and exhausting.

DT becoming president has made the world a very scary place. It has allowed the underbelly of our society, incels and white supremacists, to rise to the surface without any fear of retribution. He has attacked and attempted to dismantle safe guards on every issue I hold dear. It has led me to spend a lot of time thinking about the Jews who stayed in Germany and also the ones that left. Why did some Jews flee? What was their turning point where they realized things were not going to be safe? And as a result of those questions, who am I? Am I missing the red flags that my window to leave this country is closing? What will this mean for my family of queer neurodivergent Jews? I feel very scared.

the second presidency of the malignant narcissist and fall into authoritarianism. Has made me sad for america and have compassion for other citizens - like venezuelan friends who have experienced this powerlessness. Has motivated me to join an indivisible group and spend time more wisely - on resistance not doom scrolling.

Trump's election and inauguration. So much has happened as a result of that, that I can't even fathom that it's only been 8 months. It feels like he's been the president again for 2 years already, and so I can't believe there's another 3+ years to go. In those 8 months (heck, even just in the first 3 months!), it feels like all our government institutions have been dismantled in the worst way. I've stopped paying attention to the headlines, because they're all bad. Multiple times of day, there's a WaPo breaking news headline that would be 'shocking news of the week' in any other year, but in this year is just the new normal. And I hate that it's the new normal, but I have zero energy to expend on it. And closer to home, it's caused my mom to lose her job (well, to retire early, way before she was ready to), and I haven't had the time to adequately honor that, which I feel terrible about. Literally on Tuesday of next week, she's going to retire from the federal government after multiple decades of service, and I can't throw a big retirement party for her like I wanted to because of everything else that's on my plate. So much is going on that while answering question #3, I completely forgot my mom is even retiring (to be fair, she's still been doing biotechnology things and presenting at conferences this summer! So in some ways it doesn't feel like she's retired).

Continuing my last year’s shock about the joyful slaughter of Palestinians, and the rest of the world hardly wrinkling a brow… Looks like now they wrinkling a brow. And it will be too late to save the Palestinians, but the old world order is over. And I don’t have faith that what’s coming next is fantastic, but I do think it’s time. The UN is run by the winners of World War II. Like the Commonwealth is run by England. Why does that make sense? In the US people still back administration that is wrecking all of our relationships, supporting the wreckage of ICC, UN, etc. So I hope the silver lining is more people feeling some intellectual and political freedom to be/express themselves.including me. The structures we followed, are gone. So it has impacted me by going from really despairing to… Curious?

There is an ongoing effect of October 7th, it has affected Jews and Israelis all over the world for almost 2 years now, though I don't find myself as involved or updated on the war, I feel that the reprecussions still affect me. There's not one main event in the world that has impacted me, but more just seeing all that has impacted the world and people in the way they act. I didn't realise how corrupt it is until this year, how many bad people there are in power, how many mini wars are going on in so many different countries. I really do feel that we are headed in a direction that is bad, it feels like world war 3 isn't that far off anymore. There's always this feeling that this is all leading to something really big that is just going to happen so soon. With the state of America and how it is and Charlie kirk, who knew we lived in an age where in the western world where my generation is assassinating people. It's very scary to think about. And especially after October 7th, I see how much this can affect the world and how people act even when they don't know anything, the antisemitism and racism that has stemmed from the war is appalling and has me worried for what this will bring. I'm so happy I'm in israel right now, though it's a war zone, I'm happy I'm with my people, in my home land, because here the antisemetic and anti-israeli views don't exist, at least not as much, not enough for people to be able to do anything about it.

Watching people who used to be humane, the kinds of people who obsess over the human rights of all people, celebrate terrorists like Hamas and act as if murdering and arresting people for speech acts is righteous because everybody they don't like is a fascist. Where were they when Islamic fundamentalist drove a motorcade through London with loudspeakers calling for the rape of Jewish women? I've lost a lot of faith in people generally to see a bigger picture. We don't murder people whose views we don't like. We don't sanction the rape of women and girls and the murder of young people dancing at a festival as retaliation for an imagined injustice. I can't hope for a peaceful world. I think most of the western world doesn't even realise we're at war already and just don't know it. Has nobody ever taught people frameworks for understanding warfare, brinkmanship and non kinetic forms of violating sovereignty and territory? The next world war started when Russia took crimea. It started when we let Islamic fundamentalism become normalised and now I know Christopher and Peter hitchens were both right. Why do liberals love liberalism but trade it away for the most illiberal woman hating ideologies? I'm aghast. This last year I've been in and stopped doing anything because my husband got sick, as a result I've stepped back and I don't know if it makes me see clearly or makes me closed off. But I have seen enough this year to make me question how such mass psychosis could be induced in western populations to make them say men can be women and hamas are just peace loving freedom fighters rather than the death cult they are.

The war in Gaza. I am having difficult reconciling my commitment to the safety and security of Israel and the current campaign to conquer Gaza City. I am also struggling with the settler movement, especially in regard to what they are doing in the West Bank. I do not understand the justifications for these actions, let alone the harm they are causing to Palestinians and Israelis. My ahavat Yisrael remains strong -- perhaps this is why the struggle is intense.

There is no single event that has impacted me. It is looking like a perpetual groundhog’s day of genocide, violence, famine, oppression, suffering. Watching this suffering has strengthened my practice to work out my own shit and do my part to cultivate inner peace and bring harmony to my home, neighborhood, workplace and community. Change what we can. Ourselves.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination. I’ve not ever been moved by a celebrity or other public figures death, but Charlie’s death was like a gut punch. There’s this man. Out there doing good. Speaking truth. Educating people. Only to be brutally murdered in front of everyone. My heart broke that day.

I wonder how many people will write about the assassination of Charlie Kirk here? I only learned who he was earlier this year when my dad told me about him. My dad thought he was brilliant, I guess a lot of other people did too. After my dad told me about him I looked him up. Of course, pretty quickly I could tell this wasn't a person who's values aligned with mine. My dad and I had a short text exchange where I said I thought that this man was likely a white nationalist and a big spreader of misinformation. I do not think he should have died. I also believe he had a right to his opinions. But the last couple weeks have been really dark. I've been feeling really light headed, having vertigo, and super fatigued. And honestly I think it's partially from over consumption of media. And the heaviness of the news since trump took office. Our world feels doomed.

More war in Israel, and the rising violence in America.

I feel like we are still realing from October 7th attack on Israel. Now the recognition of Palestine across the globe. It effects my identity in the sense that for the first time in my life I'm seeing mass hysteria against jews, and people blaming the existence of Jews on all the worlds ills. Funny enough Israel begged for the two state solution for its whole existence, and no arab state did. Now that it has a prime minister who wants a one state solution, suddenly we have arab states begging for the two state solution. Of course also Jewish and democratic elected officials being killed in Minnesota and Josh shapiro's house being burned in Pennsylvania. Now Charlie Kirk has been killed and I'm seeing it polarize our nation. Worrisome stuff. We have to remember, our neighbors are not our enemies. I think calls for peace are good. I hope that perhaps maybe in a strange way there will be a silver lining.

I am watching the democracy that I have lived under for my entire life crumbling under the weight of Donald Trump and his white supremecist regime. I fear for the next days and the next years.

Well...the US election and subsequent administration horrorshow. Has me continuously grateful that we now live in Canada, worried about impacts on family & friends who live in the States, reluctant to travel across the border, and furious about the threat that a hostile and unstable US poses to Canada and our local community--all to feed the naked greed and ambition of a few, entitled, incurious, and simple-minded individuals whose ethical reasoning, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills wouldn't meet the standards of a kindergarten classroom.

So much antisemitism. It is so hard to be Jewish now. I fear for my safety and my kids' safety. I'm scared when we go out in public and people see their kippot and tzitzit. It is so sad to me that they have to have a fully armed guard at Jewish day school at all times, and that we need one at synagogue too. I bought pepper gel in 2023 but still haven't been able to bring myself to use it, but I get why people have guns. I have nightmares of people breaking into my house and shooting me. I am sad that there are still hostages who haven't come home. The amount of hate and violence on Earth is so depressing. Sometimes I wonder if God will bring another flood or other catastrophic destruction. It truly feels like an inflection point in history.

Any one single event? No. The gradual slide of all formerly stable democracies into autocracy? Yes. I regret that, while most people act with positive intent, many leaders worldwide act with evil intent.

Well... fuck me. Donald Trump was elected as the president. And our country has been in a downslide into fascism ever since. It is really difficult to read last year's response to this question in conjunction with what actually ended up happening. I do not see how things will turn around from where they are now without more violence and disaster. I wish I was able to raise my children in a less scary world.

Trump and Israel ! There is not much more I can say about this. I’ve stopped watching the news completely because I can’t bear to hear the retelling of everything horrible that’s going on. And if it wasn’t bad enough in the United States, Netanyahu has turned out to be the worst enemy of Israel that ever lived! He has ruined every hope I ever had for the state of Israel! The deepest sadness for me is that I am really aware that it will take decades to even get back to where we were four years ago before Trump and before October 7. I am a patriotic, American and a devoted Zionist, and I love the people of Israel, but I feel so hopeless right now!Please God, next year when I look back on this, please let me see that something has improved over the year!

The fact that 47 is our president has made me so anxiious about the environment, human rights, democracy...it has really stressed me out and I am unable to live calmly with this anxiety

The Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza is and has been horrific. International laws have been broken, they have targeted and killed children, families, bombed hospitals, food distribution centers, blocked food and medical aid, and silenced the truth by willfully targeting reporters on the ground. It is very clear for all of the world to see what they are doing, what they have done, all under the command of Netanyahu. He needs to be tried as a war criminal. This is hard because I know many Israelis are appalled at what their military and leadership are doing. I know how helpless they feel as they witness the illegal and blood thirsty retribution unleashed on Palestine. We here in America are in the same boat in many ways with our wanna be dictator dismantling our democratic and constitutional rights. But there is a price that needs to be paid by Israel and those in leadership need to be brought justly before the law and found guilty.

It is easy to say the US elections, and of course that has impacted me as I think about my family, my partner's family and how we look at the moment in the context of history - similarities cannot be denied. We look at world leaders - wannabe dictators and tsk, tsk - not in our country - until it is in our country. It becomes our topic of conversation - how do you just talk about the game last night or a movie you saw, when looming over our lives is the Sword of Damocles? Yet - I have to...I have to continue living and enjoying life - and continue to fight for the democracy for which I believe in.

The tariffs and Donald Trump's "51st State" rhetoric really pushed me to buy Canadian as much as possible; I did a whole workout regimen to try and prepare for joining the military if he ever actually tried it. I'm so furious with America and its leadership. I think often about whether and how I could provide safe harbour to American friends and family, particularly trans friends and family members. I'm so scared for them.

My first inclination is to talk about Israel’s annihilation of the people of Gaza. But, the United States is being besieged by this administration. Only two weeks ago the hatemonger cloaked in a cape of free speech was assassinated. The wide crevasse between the left and the right expanded and the president of the United States ordered the flag to be raised down to half staff. This is repugnant to me, especially in light of a senator being killed and her husband and family dog .There was no governmental day of morning for that. The imbalance and threat to our constitution is extremely worrisome to me. And yet, I do not let this marinate in my system, nor do I live in fear ;whatever reasons they may be, including that I have no control with any of this, I still live with Hope and love for humanity. It is hard to imagine. We have three more years of this

The election and everything after here in the US It has been horrifying. I don't think I've ever been so angry in my life than I am now at the people and institutions that put us here. There is so much unnecessary pain and cruelty.

Israel's becoming a pariah state. I see the jewish people's fate and israel's fate inextricably linked. I refuse to join the strong condemnations of israel so I am in a nether/nether land. I am afraid of being canceled by more fervent zionists.

The continuing genocide in Gaza and other countries, the deportation and imprisonment of so many good people in my own country, and the decreased freedom for me and my partner are the biggest world events this year. Grief and sadness are hallmarks. I work to remember how lucky we are in these times, compared to others

TRUMP being elected president of the USA.....again

Kamala Harris’ loss of the presidential election has adversely affected my disposition, the nation, the Constitution, and our way of life. It feels like a descent into authoritarianism. A more local event is the (January 7) fire that burned Altadena. Our home wasn’t burned, but suffered significant and widespread toxic smoke and ash damage. We are now, almost 9 months after the fire, beginning to move back in.

The war in Gaza has consumed my mind this year. I never thought I would be alive in a time of Genocide. To see children starving to death everyday on the news while everyone ignores it is sickening. I wish I could do more, how can people not have empathy? It could easily be their own family but they pretend not to see. I'm choosing how I spend my money and how I make friends more carefully because of it.

The shooting of two young Jewish people in Washington DC outside of an event for peace by someone who continued on to shout Free Palestine, and the description of the shooting, it was so haunting it made me feel physically sick and so scared and terrified. I go to these events, this could’ve been me, and it shouldn’t be anyone. I never thought in my lifetime this could’ve ever been possible and now my Gen Z and Millenial peers are cheering things like this on or excusing them, or supporting people who spread terror propaganda that leads to this. I stopped wearing a star of david which I started wearing after 10/7, I switched to a chai, so that only other Jews can recognize it. It’s a scary world and now before I go to any Jewish event I pause and think for a while first. Sometimes I don’t go. But I don’t want antisemitism to win. This shouldn’t be happening and I was already in lots of existential terror before but this happening in America was another level. I hope things change soon and people realize how wrong they were

An event in the world is the massive amounts of Jew hatred stemming from October 7th (which in and of itself was a massive act of Jew hatred). It's made me a combination of scared but also proud and defiant about my Judaism.

Charlie Kirk getting assassinated. I was shocked and saddened… Who was this guy a threat to? I cried. I saw part of the memorial when Erica forgave the assassin. The murderer turned him into a martyr. During this time of a deep introspection and forgiveness, I thought about her ability to forgive the killer and thought about how I can’t seem to forgive my scumbag Cousin in New York. We inherited a property in common and he stole from me from me for years. Every time I think about it or talk about it it’s like it just happened. The amount of hate I have toward him is surprising. I always try to remind myself that eventually his agreed And a general shittiest will come back to haunt him. I know it’s about me and my ego and wanting to be right and wanting him to suffer. But I know the only person that it hurts is me. I stopped going to temple because I thought this is why people don’t like Jews. He is such a lousy terrible person And acts like he’s holier than everybody. Anyway, I gotta lay down the grudge. It’s just so hard.

Every act that is made politically in the US and in Israel against Palestine has impacted my heart, my ability to focus, and my ability to learn unimpeded in school. The barrage is awful and constant. When will we learn that killing is never the answer?

Trump taking office. I have family and friends who rely on Medicare or Medicaid, which his friend Musk slashed. I have family members who are veterans, and the VA budget was slashed and staff laid off. I have friends who have children with special needs who no longer have the support they need in school because the department of education slashed those funds and removed those requirements. My state was hit with disasters, one of them very close to me, and thanks to cuts to FEMA, those areas that were hit are struggling to rebuild. Plus, thanks to tariffs the supplies to rebuild are more expensive. Due to tariffs now applying to purchases of less than $800 I can't even order craft supplies from small businesses outside the US; and these are supplies that are not available in the US, so there is no alternative other than do without.

Oh G-d. Where do I start? Was 2025 really the first year of the 2nd Trump administration? He has wreaked so much havoc and wrecked so many lives domestically and internationally. And that he is enabled and supported by so many is shocking, depressing, and sickening. The negative impact on global health, environment, social justice issues, scientific research - to name just a few - is immeasurable and will resonate for decades to come.

Uh, ALL of them! Having the fuhrer back in power is of course terrifying. He is encouraging open hatred, discrimination, and ignorance among our people. He is leading the world into financial crisis and more and more wars, and probably WWIII. I just hope that the country and I survive another 37 weeks until I can retire and GTFO here.

Oh man. What hasn't? The genocide in Palestine. The ongoing destruction and death in Ukraine. And the daily blatant anti-constitutional and demented doings and sayings of the chief executive of the United States. The issues from last year (I see) are still very much with us; our pantry's clientele keeps increasing, and we are striving to keep up. This year the federal government stopped a convoy of trucks that was supposed to bring supplies to our regional food bank. They were stopped before they left; a month later we read that the contents of the trucks were destroyed. In all these dreadful situations, cruelty seems to be the point. And yet... I have just finished a book that left me with a heart filled with hope. "The Mourner's Bestiary" by Eiren Caffall. A memoir of physical/ health collapse, along with insights about the collapse of our environment told through the stories of 2 US watersheds. It's remarkable, and, somehow, hopeful. The key is wonder.

During October I was offered to participate in an opera program that is very very professional and would take a lot of time out of my routine out of school hours and a lot of energy and work. This would mean missing a lot of school and other afternoon activities. This program happened during March and every single day I had an hour commute on school hours and had to perform very professionally in front of nearly 2000 people every night agreeing to participate in this was one of the best decisions I’ve made all year and has impacted me tremendously. It was incredible experience that taught me so much about myself and about hard work taught me a lot about performing in front of big audiences and overall was an amazing experience. I’m so happy I did it. Also impacted my maturity and independence and working under a lot of pressure.

Trump getting elected has been the most brutal thing to happen to our government, the concept of America, and our fundamental freedoms that I have experienced over the course of my life. I didn't freak out about it until he actually took office because I didn't want to preemptively feel terror until all this was actually happening but it's so awful and it gets worse with every passing day. I wonder if we will end up having to move to Israel. Just for reference for when I read this next year, this week Trump gave a bat shit speech at the 80th anniversary of the UN, said Tylenol©️ causes autism and told pregnant people not to take it, and fired a prosecutor when she refused to indict Comey. He then replaced that prosecutor with his personal lawyer who has never been a prosecutor and she has moved forward with the indictment. That's just this week. All that happened this fucking week. I don't know what will happen in the future. Authoritarianism is here, the full on police state is here, institutions are weak and ineffectual, and the left is focusing its energy on ... Palestine? I feel scared, defiant, resolute, and determined. I do not want to see democracy die. I believe in it. And I will fight for it. My son will not have less freedoms than I have enjoyed.

I think the biggest event--and all the rest are connected--is Donald Trump being elected for the second time. President Biden ended on a very weak note, not leaving much in terms of feeling safe. Sadly, he chose to run a second time. He was physically, and apparently mentally, up for the task. By the time he bowed out and Kamala Harris stepped in it was too late. The Democratic Party was split and weak. Donald Trump was some how able to gather enough support to win. He is a tyrant, plain and simple. His executive orders, decrees, and manipulations are literally tearing this country down. We are now the laughing stock of the developed world. He lives in a world where if you dare go against him there will be retribution, so nobody dares speak their mind. I am genuinely afraid for the future of this country and the rights that come with living here.

The disaster of Trump's election and the first 9 months of the presidency have been an epic disaster. The economy is worse than it was a year ago. The neo-nazis and fascists are emboldened. The kids' school district is making plans for losing funds. The Department of Health is making it harder to get the kids vaccinated. I'm terrified of Kennedy's push for an autism registry. They've already built the concentration camps and have now signed an executive decree that anyone protesting this fascism is a part of a non-existent terrorist organization. They're already rounding up and deporting "undesirables" and started with immigrants. It doesn't seem to matter that they're snatching citizens and people here legally. The FCC is putting pressure on media organizations to silence critiques. Universities are having their funding threatened. I saw a report today that the Secretary of Defense (now renamed the Secretary of War) is calling top generals to come to DC. They've already called in the National Guard to quash non-existent protests in progressive places to "reestablish order". And it seems that a decent percentage of my fellow Americans think this is a great thing. This is terrifying.

The Trump presidency has been an unmitigated disaster, and I feel that it has enabled a cascade of negative events around the world. Racism and antisemitism and other hatreds are fair game in public now. Corruption and cheating the most vulnerable members of society are prized now. I was laid off from my job doing behavioral healthcare for the rural poor due to federal funding cuts. Who benefits? No one I know. I’ll be ok, but the people I was working with…who knows.

The event that has impacted me most this year is the election of Trump. I find him a disgusting human being, surrounded by weak-willed sycophants who seem to care more about clinging to power than doing good or doing what’s right. This event affected me personally as well: a month before the election I took the risk of writing a warning essay in my newsletter. Soon after, Bhavani Lev had her underling tell me she could no longer support my work because she “doesn’t believe in political statements.” That was disingenuous, since only a few years earlier she had required me and other grantees to declare our positions on vaccination. I suspect she was a Trump supporter—not out of principle but self-interest. She, too, has been propped up by and hidden behind her wealth. I have complicated feelings about all this, because I also grew up with privilege and continue to live with some wealth. My opposition to Trump is not because he is a businessman, but because he represents and encourages the worst elements in us. What unsettles me most is how many people were willing to bend over backwards to support him, again out of self-interest and fear of losing power. Bob Rannigan says there is no “it”—nothing external can objectively upset me; only I can upset myself. That forces me to ask: what wounds or past traumas are being stirred by these events? Why do they feel so unsettling? Bob says he can love Trump as he loves everyone, recognizing the sickness in our culture that Trump embodies. I see that too—that Trump has used his power to act out his unhealed wounds, wounds that reflect the culture as a whole. But I’m also part of that culture, part of the privileged class. That’s why my feelings are mixed: I sense something unhealed in myself is being chafed. It troubles me that I’m not so far above this that I can simply criticize Trump. I see many people do so, perhaps to feel good about their own morality. But they too, like me, are implicated in the structures of privilege that helped bring Trump to power. Academia is one such structure; I’ve seen how it silences people unfairly, myself included. So I’m left unsettled, not sure what to do with all these conflicting feelings. I know they go deeper than politics. They force me to look at the wounds within myself, my relationship to privilege, and my own complicity in the culture I’m so quick to condemn.

I don't know how anyone could say anything but the beginning of Trump's second term. I have known this was where we were headed for over 10 years but I thought I would be more prepared. I'm scared every day of waking up and seeing a video of my friends being dragged into vans and I'm also scared of being one of those people. I am looking into relocating to Canada.

I had a falling out with a friend who apparently had me confused with Netanyahu's office and decided to express her stance on Israel's actions just... out of the blue. Because she'd had a political discussion with a mutual friend and somehow thought it a good idea to preventively "state her stance" to me. The next day, Dad told me that his cousin got burnt in the antisemitic attack in Colorado and needed a skin graft. A few days later, I had a full-blown fallout with the friend. She was sorry to hear about my relative, but seemed really offended that I took her "stance on Israel" too personally instead of giving her a huge SJW hug.

The re-election of Donald Trump, aspiring fascist dictator. The ongoing genocide in Gaza and the ongoing support and complicity in it by the United States of America. Mass shootings. Environmental degradation and rapid climate change. The world is heavy and hard right now. It is hard to resist despair. It is hard to believe people are good. It is hard to know what to do and how to use the limited resources and energy I have. Where will it matter most? Can enough be done in time? How do we grieve this many losses in such rapid succession? What more will need to be lost before we commit to changes that will liberate and free all of us? What has to happen to a person, to a people, to a country, to a world that violence and cruelty are the go-to responses so often?

The election and inauguration of the current US president. There are a multitude of ways, including stripping back and attacking rights for transgender individuals and immigrants, the blatant lies and inflammatory remarks, a resurgence of anti-Semitism, tariffs, and legislation that is actively harmful towards the future of the country and world for the sake of “better business” and “efficiency”. These changes have significantly impacted my mental health and benefit only the ultra-rich, leaving the average American with less money to pay higher bills for everyday things. I’m stuck participating in a system that wants me to not exist anymore and that is terrifying.

My body has really been reacting poorly to the events happening in the world and the rise of racism, facism, transphobia, inequality and Christian Nationalism. It's meant that I've had to distance myself from the news for a while but want to come back fighting for other people's lives, rights and peace.

The hostages STILL have not been released, yet various countries are rewarding the "Palestinians" with recognition of a country. How to people who are leaders and advisors of governments reward a Terrorist Organization for the worst attack on Jews since The Shoa?

The continuing violence and suffering from the war in Israel and particularly the ghastly situation in Gaza has upset and shocked me, made me feel I don’t want to go to Israel until it ends (despite the friends and family I’d like to see there) - and I’m very unhappy about Israel’s government attitude to the whole situation. I don’t see any easy way it can end - and the sense of foreboding and distress continues with increases - it embarrasses me to be connected.

Definitely Donald Trump becomes president again of America. He used big language and made huge demands and it really seems that he was going to ensure the rescue of the hostages inhumanly captured in Gaza

I didn't want to get political here, but the earthshattering world event for me was the (re)election of Trump. We may not last as a democracy, hate is spewed everywhere in the public space, the top 1% are being catered to and damnation to the 99%/rest of us. I am scared. I wonder when I realize I have to leave--when did the Jews in Europe realize, or was it too late? Fascist Trump might close the borders and, yes, it will be too late.

GAZA. TRUMP. The coming to the surface of empire. The ongoing genocide. The unwillingness for countries to heed the desire of their citizens to engage in ending the atrocities. The continual revealing of the underbelly of heteronormative patriarchal white supremacy and the concrete policies that have been put into place for that ideology.

I think that late stage capitalism and global greed by the elite has affected me. It’s both directly affected me as someone laid off from my job, but it’s also affected me through the lens of challenging capitalism and the overall direction that a greed and individualistic society goes. It’s made me reconsider if there are alternative ways of making a living that feel more communal and supportive.

The closing of USAID and all other new US administration anti-human rights measures. I was shocked as I could not have imagined a year ago that USAID has been wiped away from existence after so many years of dedicated work in upholding democracy, human rights and fighting poverty; that the entire human rights vocabulary would be altered for the worse or made desolate. I was also scared because that US politics unleashed the dormant and hidden right-wing politicians who were encouraged to speak up and admit they were homophobic, mysiginists, ruthless military aggressors, but also antisemites. Realised I live in a cocoon among like minded individuals and that the world is less and less a safe place for us regardless of where we are.

Oh wow, I think Trump being elected was and continues to be a significant catalyst for being involved in movement organizing. People are scared, some of them aren't organizing but some are. Over the summer, more recently, I became more involved in local organizing group and my partner and friends have taken a similar trajectory. The impact is felt far and wide. If we're talking personal events, various friends parents have experienced illness or injury, especially in the spring, and it's having an impact on how I view this stage of life and parent/child relationships.

Israel. Gaza. Washington. Ukraine. Russia. Raging antisemitism - I haven't seen it locally but I know it's here and everywhere. Friends looking to move to Canada. I put them in touch with Harold. Others considering Mexico because it has better weather. How: the 24 hour news cycle. There's no way to not know what's going on in the world. I do behave and don't look to social media for news. Why: Because I am Jewish, compassionate, scared, a local Jewish leader, and I am who I am.

Trump coming into office and appointing loyal but corrupt and incompetent people to fill key roles and apply cruel policies that hurt people worldwide has been depressing. Why does it impact me - because, like millions of others, we care about others.

The ongoing war in Israel is taking a toll on my mental health, and I have not taken the appropriate time to return to my books and resources that have defined my relationship with Israel through my life. Particularly: Joseph Roth and Omri Boehm. I want to maintain my relationship with the country and my values, but the rightward sliding of the world, particularly the two countries with which I associate most close, is making it very difficult to stay afloat.

Donald Trump got elected again. The people he has put in charge undermine the very fabric of my profession in mental health. My clients are in danger of losing access to vital services. Everything is more expensive. I don't know who I can trust. I don't understand the people who are OK with what is happening in the country I want so badly to be proud of. All I can do is keep being present for those who need me and keep trying to love those I don't understand.

Because it illuminates the downslide of culture, education, information and care to a point where this could happen - the election of DT. I've never felt as hopeless and powerless. I've also never felt as intelligent and wise when I compare myself to those who let others do their thinking for them. After many weeks of "why get out of bed, today?" I started listening to understand and demanding the same as others around me. I'm seeing the shifts in the geology of society, and that gives me hope.

Donald fucking trump becoming president. The amount of hatred it has spewed into this world is hard to comprehend. It’s an existential feeling of anxiety, if not knowing what is going to happen or who is going to be impacted and just creating more divisiveness in the country. It’s embarrassing and disheartening and makes me terrified for what the future holds.

The event that has continued to impact me the most this year is the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, along with the ongoing rise of antisemitism and Jew hatred around the world. This reality has been both painful and eye-opening, reminding me that the hatred toward Jews and Israelis did not end with the Holocaust and, in many ways, has only escalated. At the same time, it has strengthened my identity and deepened my connection to my culture and religion. I can truly say that I have never been prouder to be a Jew, and this pride fuels my commitment to speak out and stand strong in the face of hate.

Donald Trump became president again and is ruining America.

Genocide. Fascism. Hate. Our world said "never again" and has repeated the same atrocities again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again ... I am tired and I am in pain for the people. We are sick. We are dying. We are killing ourselves. Yet those who CAN do something to fix it do nothing to make any of it better. The sky is on fire, and those with the water drink it greedily while the rest of us burn. Greed. Millionaires. It continues. Hate wins. We suffer. More will die. I wonder if it will ever end.

The rise of fascism has put increased pressure on every choice I make. I feel like if we do not find ways to take care of each other, we will all die. This has provided a degree of clarity that has been useful in my choices, but brings me pain as I have a tendency to direct all my anger and blame inward. I still hope to find balance, but. I have not.

Fucking Trump again. Holy shit. Could it be any worse? Kamala lost. Can you believe it? I’m still in shock, and it’s almost been a year. I haven’t had much energy to even pay attention this year, my world already blew to pieces. But it’s bad. So bad. We’re fucked.

Donald trump being president - it’s been a snowball effect of undoing and it’s scary to think about where this nation is headed.

Well, its only been 11 months since Trump got elected a second time somehow which feels completely impossible because it also feels like 75 years have passed since every day is a damn fire drill. But yeah, that thing. And as an event that was confined to this year (not the ongoing genocide in Gaza cause I don't think of that as an event from just this year), the 12 day war with Iran and Israel deeply impacted me emotionally--it laid bare just how little most Jews globally care about the Iranian Jewish community and it broke my heart.

I guess the entirety of the shit Trump has pulled is “an event”. There are no words adequate enough to describe how he and his idiots are damaging what little is left of our democracy.

Trump was inaugurated this January and nothing has been the same. University programs have been decimated, S's passport came back wrong, and the Stonewall museum removed trans and bisexual people from its history. Someone I know protested at the courthouse and was detained by ICE for a day. People are being pulled of the street. Some folks I know are leaving, but we can't leave. I feel trapped.

Carney’s election. He is not reinforcing the laws in Canada to bring back justice for crime. He has done nothing regarding our medical system and caved into Trump’s demands. This all affects my life on a daily basis as I cannot trust that I will be treated with the justice I deserve.

Not a major world event, but a major life-scale one - 2 years after loosing my last dog, I adopted a new one. Bailey has transformed my life. I realize how important it is for me to feel needed & how much I missed having someone to come home to.

I think the ongoing war in Gaza has continued to impact me. I am grieving my connection to Israel, which was so ingrained in me for so long. I feel this has tainted our history as a Jewish people. I am so sad for everyone in Gaza. Jews need a homeland. Jews need a place to feel safe. Not at the cost of others' lives. Israel is being so hypocritcal. It makes me sad to see the Israeli government kill and starve and torture people in the name of a Jewish homeland. I don't want to be associated with that. I fear for the perception of Jews everywhere, and for myself.

Trump was elected president of the U.S. for the SECOND time, a truly surreal horror for me and the entire world. He is a massive humiliation on the world stage; yesterday he addressed the UN and told all the countries they're going to hell. (I mean, every time he opens his mouth, we all cringe.) Seems like this week we are on a major precipice as he is ramping up the fascism: kidnapping people (immigrants or anyone who looks brown) off the streets was just step one. Now they are filing criminal charges against his enemies (James Comey was just indicted) and next week Hegseth is gathering all the generals and admirals for what I fear is going to be a loyalty purge so they can start turning the military on us. I also can say unequivocally this year that there is a genocide taking place in Gaza.

Someone described reading the news over the past 8 months as undergoing surgery with anesthesia. So many things I thought were true- separation of powers functioning, executive orders aren't instant laws, we shouldn't build concentration camps, masked and unidentifiable federal agents can't just snatch people off the street and take them away, often to said concentration camps... At this point, I just hope we have real elections this time next year and I'm not super optimistic given our current trajectory!

The horrifying deterioration of the USA under this administration, starting with actually stealing the election from Kamala Harris and many Democratic Senators and Representatives, has continued almost unabated for almost a year and is AWFUL. The divide among Jews regarding Gaza/Israel/Palestine is within my own family and the world in graphic detail as well. Very sad and angry about both. In both cases, the PEOPLE are mostly good and right; the governments SUCK and aren't being stopped soon enough. I feel very pessimistic about humankind at this point.

Hahahahahahaha. Yeah, not funny. Trump's election. I could say the ongoing demonization of Jews and Israel, but that didn't begin in this past year.

Well, in addition to the ongoing aftermath of October 7th, the rise of antisemitism worldwide and the vehement anti-Israel attacks, there is the re-election of Trump as President of the U.S. every day is a nightmare! It brings back all the lessons I learned the year I studied the rise of Naziism and the Shoah in College. America is now a Fascist country. Trump is the new Hitler, the new Mussolini, the new Stalin, and those of us who are thinking people in this country are very afraid!! I am stressed to the max, every. single. day! I am becoming ill from all the worry, literally!! To the point of contemplating suicide. I want to move back to Israel, with all that's going on there, so badly, but I CANT AFFORD IT!!! My closest friends made aliyah in June 2022. I speak to them a couple of times a month, even more right after Oct.7, and I miss them very much. To be free of the Fascism in America is my obsession, now!! This is not MY America any more!!

Ha ha ha.

Trump's election. There's so much to say - the illegal rounding up and deportations of our immigrant neighbors, the dehumanizing and dangerous attacks on trans people, the violations of free press, the absolute violations of constitutional rights, the persecutions of his political enemies (like most recently, the indictment of James Comey). Some of this will directly impact me personally, such as the potential of losing gay marriage. But many, many people are more directly impacted and it's truly terrifying.

The election of someone that I think is destroying the democracy of our country. I find this extremely upsetting and divisive for our country. It makes me scared and anxious and I want to leave the country before it's too late.

There have been many events in the world, but none have impacted me directly.

Our president is a jackass. Donald Trump should never have been elected a second time. However, he is in office and dismantling the country, the government, everything. Prices have been raised, laws have been destroyed, people are dying. This is not a good time in this world. It causes for us, as Israelites, to get closer to God

There’s no one event that has impacted me much, just “how the world is” in general. I’m weary of social media, hyped news and fake news, and the “herd mentality” of modern culture in general. I’m starting to step away from it all gradually since my business is tied up in the social media aspect of it. I’m choosing quality books over scrolling. I’m following a select few writers on Substack that speak to what’s important to my life. I’m spending as little time as possible on screens, and more time with my family, friends, pets, and plants. Maybe it’s my age, maybe because I grew up without the internet and hand-held screens, or maybe we’re just over-stimulated as a society… I am weary of it all. I am pursuing a real, tangible life in relation to others – and to the world. My hands in the dirt planting seeds, playing with our 4 cats, deep conversations with friends at the kitchen table… that is the future I am building for myself.

The 2024 election brought me so much grief, and watching our government dismantle day by day makes me heartsick. I find myself stuck sometimes because I don't even know what to do.

Israel’s intelligent and precise Roaring Lion attack on Iran this year has filled me with an astounding degree of respect for Israel. And I’m even more deeply proud of my Jewishness.

I hate to have all my answers be Trump. It's boring and terrifying. So let's go with ... Hm. I mean...I made money on Kalshi when Jimmy Kimmel got cancelled. Or rather when he returned. Made $30! Woot! I am not a fan of having to defend Israel's actions in Gaza. They're doing a terrible job of winning either war (Gaza or PR). I hope Bibi gets impeached soon. I don't think there's another way this ends. And speaking of that, what the heck is the alternative to a two state answer? One state? That only works if democracy is off the table and I'm not in favor of that. Ridiculous.

The presidency of Donald Trump has made me and so many others frightened and weary without respite. We are now ruled, not by democracy, but by billionaires -- they own and control all the news media, social media, etc, and have directed the zeitgeist to a hard right/authoritarian place. There seems to be little pushback. A rightwing provocateur was assassinated in broad daylight at an event where he was speaking, and immediately there was a purge of anyone who pointed out in public that he himself advocated for really heinous things, and that maybe the atmosphere that he helped to create contributed to his own death. There were so many reports of people being fired from their jobs for daring to suggest his complicity in his death. It feels today like we are living in Orwellian times.

The fall out of October 7 still reverberates in our friendship groups and our synagogue. Like an dark echo, and the feeling that the direction we are on is... (and then the rabbi called and said how I finish this sentence makes all the difference)....

The election of Trump and the world that has collapsed since has been almost unbearable. It seems like at every turn there is another incredible disaster that has the potential to reverberate for years & decades to come. But then there is hope and there are voices and there is a palpable desire by so many to return the world to a place that is recognizable and that has potential. How one human can upend society on such a massive scale is terrifying...I wonder if we will ever truly recover or if he has rewritten the narrative and redefined what is now considered acceptable and normal.

There are so many terrible things happening under Trump, it's hard to pick just one. But installing RFK and his brain worm to lead HHS has drastically changed how my day to day life in pediatrics goes. I argue about vaccines all the time. The anti-vaxxers are completely empowered. Tylenol causing autism. Gutting the CDC and ACIP. The speed with which he has decimated the healthcare system (and our morale) is breathtaking.

Trump being elected. He is hateful and vengeful and embarrassingly stupid. He’s a sociopathic, demented old man who is being manipulated by a cabal of evil puppet masters. How do I feel? Like I don’t want to live in the US until he and his horrible cronies lose power.

I am completely sickened by our current administration and the impact it is having on this country and the world. Our leaders are despicable, dishonest, and a disgrace to our country. personally, it has caused me great stress. I cannot imagine the impact it is having on people who are less fortunate that I am.

I guess the re-election of Trump. It has sucked so much and in so many ways, it’s hard to believe it’s only 1/4 of the way over.

The election of Trump is impacting us individually, collectively, and the world. Economically we are headed for hard times. Countless unnecessary deaths will occur due to the attacks on science. The US is a laughing stock throughout the world. Perhaps the democracy will fail. Perhaps we will have to take the country back by force.

Donald Trump was elected and is president and it's terrible. Worse than I even imagined. The country is rapidly descending into fascism/Christian Nationalism and I'm not sure how we get out of it. Things do not feel hopeful right now.

The unjust UK Supreme Court ruling on trans people that has further opened the way for discrimination and violence towards trans people has made me feel even less safe to be trans, and afraid for the whole trans community.

The Prime Minister of Israel openly targeted and killed 8 scientists who worked on the nuclear project. Those planned assassinations killed numerous children and several of their wives. Wicked and demonic.

The embarrassment of having a misogynistic bigoted idiot as a president has sent me reeling. I feel the US is now the laughing stock of the world. I do not understand how any sane human could have voted for him.

This country is a mess. Our leader is a complete and unmitigated lunatic, and the rest of the republican party is letting him do horrible things to this country that we're all going to regret, on both sides of the aisle. And violence as a result of the rhetoric is out of control. I don't really see how we get out of this - nobody is truly taking a stand.

The re-election of Trump. It made me realize how filled with despair and hopeless our country has become. People aren't in their right minds, and they will do anything they are fed through the media. Our country's decision made me so sad, and realize that I can only control myself and my tiny circle around me.

I can not wrap my head around what is happening in the world right now. With Donald trump as president again, I'm avoiding even reading the news. He's despicable to me on so many levels. He's embarrassing to me as an American. I'm having so much trouble understanding how 1/2 the country believes in him. Even when I agree with something he does, the manner in which he does it, the manner in which he talks about it, the way he treats everyone around him (friend or foe) make it simply impossible to support him. I'm also struggling SO much re Israel. Like I have debates in my head about it all the time. How can people just blame Israel for everything and not Hamas---it's just beyond belief. I do think Israel has to just stop now because they are killing too many Palestinian civilians and they are suffering horribly. And Israeli has been so successful killing so many Hamas leaders but there will always be more? When does it end? It must end. On the other hand, why aren't people angry at Hamas for withholding hostages? for not surrednering themselves? Hamas started the entire crisis in the most devastating manner and only Israel is asked to lay down their arms? I just don't get it.

Last year’s fears have come to pass and Donald Trump is once again President of the United States. It’s much worse than I could ever have believed possible. In eight short months he has severely weakened the republic and it appears that no one will stand in his way. Congress is cowed, Democrats are ineffectual, and the Supreme Court thus far has been compliant. He’s managed to shake down prominent law firms, universities, and the media. And today he has begun to use the justice department to go prosecute his political enemies, James Comey was indicted today. Each day brings new outrage as he demolishes Constitutional barriers meant to constrain a would be tyrant. If, miraculously, the Democrats manage to win the House in 2026 he may be stopped. That is becoming a long shot as loyalist governors are gerrymandering districts in a desperate effort to forestall a Democratic victory. Should that happen—it’s hard to say what will happen next.

Trump’s second (and hopefully last) 4-year term as President has impacted everyone in the U.S. and in the world. He lies about everything. He takes credit for things he had nothing to do with. He blames anyone but himself for things that he screwed up. Oh and by the way, he’s a convicted felon, a rapist, a bigot, an unethical businessman, and is responsible for thousands upon thousands of deaths from COVID during his first term. Other than that, I can see why Jewish voters supported him (not really).

The election was incredibly impactful. I will never forget checking while I was at work and seeing Pennsylvania go to Trump. There was such relief and joy. On the other side of the coin, just two weeks ago Charlie Kirk was assassinated. I have never been so impacted by someone dying, especially someone I didn't even know. The horror, shock, anger, and sorrow was just overwhelming and it has pushed me to start doing hard things every day. Everyone spoke about how hard Charlie worked, how he never stopped and I want to be like that. Always quick to do good.

Oh. Brother. Soooooo much. The world feels so heavy and so rough with this current administration in place. Every day, the news hits with the next awful thing that he's said or done. It impacts me deeply in that the worry I have for the state of our country runs deep...I simply do not understand how we're in the situation we're in and we are so polarized as a country that it boggles my mind that not everyone feels the same. I worry deeply that people fall for false things that are shared across their feed, this isn't just one side anymore. I find people who believe as I do are also sharing mis and dis information now. I don't know how we come out of this. :-(

I just can't even. The election and the aftermath have me afraid for so much and so many. I pray that those that are in the orange cult will come to their senses- and get him out. I cling to glimmers of hope - to Jimmy Kimmel coming back on the air. To the orange's declining poll numbers. To the occasional other republican to speaks against him. to the courts doing the right thing.

Israel's relentless bombing of Gaza and the starvation of the people. It has made me question my connection to Israel and my identity as a Jew. I have learned as James Baldwin has said just because a people have been oppressed it doesn't mean they cannot become oppressors. I support Israel's right to exist as any sovereign nation. I don't support the Netanyahu government's right to ethnic cleansing. I am questioning the Jewish supremacy of Israel. It's a challenging moment to be a Jew.

The Trump Disaster is ever present. I have to battle with people to NOT talk about it to me. It is so upsetting to have a president who doesn't represent any of the values I have held precious regarding my country. I just want him gone.

Our President is embarrassing us as a nation worldwide, making a speech at the United Nations where he called Climate Change the biggest hoax ever pulled off. While our oceans fill up with plastic. He is making money putting human beings into privatized prisons while giving no access to journalists to check on conditions of them inside. We don't know what kind of hell these people are experiencing. The vast majority of them are decent human beings who came here to better their lives, and that of their families. We desperately need a better, more compassionate, more humane government.

Oy. The election of Trump and the onset of his vengeful, paranoid, authoritarian bullshit causes me daily stress. I used to read the New York Times, the Washington Post, Haaretz, the Guardian, Politico etc. every day but I have had to limit my intake of news severely because the news is so disturbing and horrible. I don't even want to go into detail. It strikes me as I write this that in a year from now, the news from the current administration could be even worse, and could have come closer and closer to ruining the lives of my family that way the administration -- DOGE, ICE, cuts to USAID, scientific research, and health quackery -- has already ruined the lives of so many Americans in such a short time.

United States. Israel. Russia. Autocratic zero-sum game rulers. The anti-human humans. My latest blogpost addresses it: https://gailwhipple.substack.com/p/a-song-for-people-all-over-the-world An applicable excerpt: "The first verse (of my song for humanity) - For peace, kindness and honor among us – was the bottom line of what humanity needs to go forward. Historically, although fighting and starving and harming other humans has been an effective strategy for strongmen to hold power, it has not been as effective, creative and positive for our species as the cooperative endeavors of humans, such as farming, developing technologies and healthcare, exploring new horizons in healthcare, developing safe spaces to live, etc." And, oh yeah, my same answers all the way back in my 10Q history.

We have fascism in the US now. That seemed possible in the past, but not really likely. It is astounding have fast it has proceeded, and how utterly spineless most people, who are in some position to challenge it, really are -- from law firms to universities, to courts, to TV executives and other corporations. The cowardice in front of an obvious bully, who always chickens out (TACO) anyway, is astounding and even embarrassing (embarrassing as a human, that other humans are such pathetic cowards).

I worry that reading this next year upsets me all over again. Charlie Kirk’s assassination has been such a zeitgeist moment in my family, dividing the socially liberal Jews from the conservative evangelical Christians. I am afraid I will lose half my family because even if I learn to be diplomatic about who he was and what he stood for, that does not mean that they can do the same. I deactivated social media and stepped way back from everyone. I hope this time next year we can navigate our differences and retain our friendships.

The new president has created a fearful state of terror. Nothing has impacted me and my family as much as the crazed policies, theft of democracy and general trend to hatefulness in this world. Every dinner party is ruined by this man. Every social interaction is marred by the news. I hate him andn his goons with all my might,. I guess this also goes for Bibi Netanyahu who is trashing the state of Israel and the feeling of the world against it. I am at wiot's end about these developments.

The election of the orange turd and his merry christo-fascist leash holders has endangered the life of one of my kids, who is lgbtq. There will be no mercy and no forgiveness for the maga asshats at my shul if anything happens to her.

It's hard to pick just one! This past year has been such an awful sh$t storm of sh$t from the Trump administration and other awful global events. I really don't think I saw this coming a year ago. The piece that probably scares me the most on a personal level is the RJK Jr. anti-vaccine agenda. We are truly going backwards. But I'm also deeply disturbed by so much else too, for instance the cruel and unjust actions of ICE. I question what kind of world I am bringing my son into. I hope that as a country we can come back from this period of time.

I'm seeing things happening in the world right now, and watching it unfold. Huge crowds in Europe and Australia are marching the streets to bring back patriotism and control over their own country. When Charlie Kirk was shot for speaking at a public event at a Utah University, I was shocked at the news. I felt truly sad because I couldn't believe that someone would kill him (or anyone) for speaking his opinion. He was trying to reach out to young folks, to debate, to learn from each other, to have open conversations about any questions that the crowd had. I'm not a fan of his, and I definitely didn't agree with everything he said, but absolutely I feel like our culture has changed if there were folks who cheered and celebrated this. I find that disgusting and disappointing that something horrific happened and people are so insensitive to it. Now he's seen as a martyr to everyone who speaks truth in our dark world. I'm beginning to see the spiritual warfare happening. What's been amazing to me after that happened is to see how it's impacted much of the Western world. Vigils held in parts of Europe. Now I'm seeing marching in the streets, passionate crowds getting together. Maybe it's a fight against the extreme left? I think that a lot of European countries, and much of the world has become complacent and let the government take charge of everything. Maybe the pendulum is swinging back. Interesting times, right now. Another thing that happened in the past year was the wildfires that happened last January in L.A. I live in an LA suburb. It was terrifying, that night when the winds were howling and fires were out of control. I absolutely hated seeing all those houses burn. I prayed all night for divine protection over the valley I live in, and we were spared. But Pacific Palisades and Altadena burned to the ground. I know of 3 people who lost their entire homes in Altadena. Now there's all kinds of politics going on around it, and I fear for the future of our state, let alone Los Angeles. I might as well say it here: I think that Pacific Palisades burned because of mismanagement of our local government. I also wonder if there was something shady going on. We'll see how this all unfolds... I feel like a lot of shady government dealings are becoming more exposed and the truth is coming forward.

The fact that I have put myself out there more. Not getting much back. I am keeping my options open. Life is full of surprises.

The tragedy of the United States <— definitely not UNITED!! How in hell did this unqualified megalomaniac get re-elected!!!!!!! It is a tragedy of GLOBAL proportions: affecting negatively all that is going on in the world. It is truly hard to have any hope.

The election of our current president has impacted me and everyone. It’s such a mystery to me how this man gets away with such poor choices. He is narcissistic, a liar, and disgusting. I am so discouraged with his targeting of immigrants, denial of climate change, his disrespect of women, and overall socialist/dictatorship leadership. Gross

Trump is our President. I don’t know how. I don’t know why. He and his people are hurting everyone in our country, and everyone in the world. I would like to be protesting, loudly, in person and on social media, but my brother is a high ranking active duty service member, and I worry that I could affect his standing. So I just keep volunteering in different places to help our disenfranchised neighbors. Sigh.

President Trump got elected this year. It impacted me cause I went to Washington DC to try and invoke 14 three of our constitution thank you very much. OK

Last year I wrote "I can't imagine what will happen if Trump wins again. He just can't." Well.... It's hard to say one event, but his winning the election and the domino effect it has had on the entire world in the months since feel like getting through this is going to be impossible. It's only been 8 months of his presidency and already everything is so fucked up. Also, the war in Israel and Gaza feels neverending. Between our government, the Israeli government, Hamas, Qatar.... it doesn't feel like anyone in power actually wants this to end peacefully.

It is hard to not focus on the United States, given what is happening. But I would say the wars in Ukraine and Palestine and the loss of life in both places. But the most difficult thing is that we allow this to happen as if these people don’t matter and in the case of Palestine we the United States are supporting the loss of life.

The ongoing troubles of the presidency of Donald Trump: the ice abductions, the ongoing war in Israel, the antisemitism, the starving children in Gaza, mostly I have tried to hide and shield myself from the news and talk with my husband about what we take all this to me and walk in the forest near my house to try and stay in a peaceful, calm place while these fires burn around me

The anti Israeli news so easily believed by so many, including friends.

The election of Donald Trump. I can't believe we did this again. Did people learn nothing the last time? And this time it is worse. Every day there's another thing he does to slowely dismantle the Constitution and democracy. And the disappointment of finding out that Mom and Dad voted for him because of the abortion issue. I had really convinced myself that they didn't. I have never called my congresspeople before, but I have a few times this past year. And I have emailed them more than I've ever emailed them before. But I still feel helpless and like no one can stop him.

I'm still so angry about the aftermath of October 7th. Albanese announced that Australia now recognises a Palestinian state. So much anti-Israel sentiment. So much insecurity. It feels like you can't comfortably talk about Israel or being Jewish unless you're among friends. I'm triggered by the sight of a keffiah. I feel people can wave their Palestinian flags and wrap themseves in keffiahs as this noble act of defiance, but quietly wearing a Magen David or discussing visiting Israel is somehow ugly. People only see children among the rubble of bombs. They've forgotten the hand-slaughtering of children at a music festival. They've forgotten the mother and her two babies that were taken from their home in the early hours at gunpoint and then strangled and their bodies held hostage. If we're not for all children, how can we be for any?

The ongoing AI-driven economic transformation is affecting the career landscapes of many that I know. I personally feel some anxiety about my long-term prospects; I feel that accumulating resources in anticipation of a lean season is the best way to survive.

The decline of our government as well as the decline in human decency. I am beginning to feel more and more isolated. My trust in people is crumbling. There are days when listening to the news makes me physically sick. I see this country failing fast, and I worry about the future for my children and grandchildren.

Trump’s election and subsequent dismantling of our government has been deeply troubling. Most concerning is the constant assault on the first amendment rights. We’re experiencing unprecedented narrowing of our rights to freedom of speech, religion, and press. Christian Nationalists are trying to restrict public education insisting, incorrectly, we are a Christian nation, threatening comedians and station broadcasters when they show Trump and Republicans in a bad light, pulling funding from PBS because of it’s inclusiveness, restricting access of journalists with opposing viewpoints, pulling down museum exhibits that share historical information that represents unfavorable periods of our past, and otherwise impeding the flow of divergent ideas.

This year it has to be Trump. Simply put a greedy thief using office ot steal as much as his greedy fat little fingers can grasp. How Americans could possibly allow someone as vile and corrupt as him to be in public life at all is a stain on their whole nation. Child molestors tend to go to jail everywhere else

That asshole motherfucker won again. My neighbor cried, "We hate women in this country so much!" Honestly, I don't know how our country survives this. I had come to peace with not moving out of the country, now, I just don't know. I worry for my kids so much. Colin's getting married in less than a year. Bryan may follow suit. They're starting their adult lives. Should I be trying to talk them into ex-patting with us? And what of my sisters? It's so sad and demoralizing. I am grateful I have work that is meaningful to me, and activities that are a balm for my soul. I am grateful for my shul (shoutout to Mishkan Chicago!), so grateful for my friends and infinitely grateful for my family. And also so, so scared for us all.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk. This assassination affected me in so many ways. It showed how angry people are and what they can do just because they don’t like what you say. My generation we grew up with the adage “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Now if someone doesn’t like what you have to say, they turn to violence. Charlie Kirk just wanted a better country for all of us to live in. He wanted people to find the peace that can only come through a relationship with Jesus Christ. He just wanted to tell the truth in a respectful way, and it got him killed. It’s been two weeks and I’m still not over it.

how to choose one?? trump and immgration horror and authoritarianism and mahmoud khalil and awdah hathaleen killed in west bank and thousands and thousands of children killed by bombs or starvation in gaza. how to choose one?? i want to do an IG fundraiser for the "days of awe" and am paralyzed over how to choose an issue-- gaza, immigration, west bank, overturning TABOR.... how ....

The rampant, unchecked rise of antisemitism coupled with blaming Jews for everything wrong in the world. We are taught not to blame the victim in a crime, yet the world blames the Jewish people & Israel. I'm a first-generation post-Holocaust baby, born in 1946. It was during these very dark days that the Jews were once again blamed and dehumanized for Germany's problems. I thought that with the establishment of our Homeland that Jews would find a safe place in the world. It was not to be then, nor is it now. I fear for my grandchildren and their children. Will they still be able to be Jews?

Sweet Jesus god, the stupidest developed nation on earth reelecting a historically unfit… person as POTUS. The stress never stops.

Ohhh man, these answers will be wild. Yeah, so Donald Trump taking office has basically thrust us into fascism and here we are. Things are hella dodgy. Healthcare is falling - first for vulnerable folks, for pregnant people and trans people. Immigration is a horror show - we have ICE and the army hunting people in our streets. We are fighting, but in the quiet times despair about what comes next.

There are almost two many world events to describe. The war between Israel and Hamas continues to effect everything in my work and personal realtionship to Israel. I was always opposed to settlements and the very separate educational system in Israel but now I am horrified by Netanyahu's insistence on continuing and increasing the war, when cease fire is the only way to bring the hostages home. The war and the left's reaction to it have continued to contribute to rising antisemitism. Before October 7, I never hesitated to share my religion or my work, but now I hesitate when I meet new people to tell them I work in the Jewish community. I'm also incredibly distraught by Trump's presidency. So many of my friends and family lost their jobs due to DOGE cuts that have only cost the government more money. People in my neighborhood are terrified to go to work or send their chidlren to school due to ICE raids. Masked men kidnapping people off the streets in the name of homeland security and fighting crime. Given these absolutely unprecedented events, I soemtimes have trouble seeing the value of my work. I want to be protesting and working to support all those in need. However, I am the major breadwinner in our home and I need to do my work in order to support my own family. I feel constantly torn, and have an underlying feeling of anxiety all the time, as does almost everyone else I know.

Trump becoming president again. While I am not completely out of hope for the country, I think everything will stay shitty for a while, so him and the other people with money/power can continue to do a victory lap. Life for so many people has changed for the worse, and those in government who care enough to do something about it have mostly been fired already. I seriously considered moving to Japan when things were good, and now I hear a voice saying "why haven't you done it yet? What is left for you here?"

The election of Donald Trump has turned me into a full blown political activist. My retirement has changed from a person who goes out to lunch, takes walks and goes to the gym to a person who actively opposes our government. Not what I expected from this phase of my life, but it is where I need to be right now.

The loud drum beat of animosity towards Israel has made me feel angry and sometimes lonely, yet clear about my love of and support for Israel.

Everything. Just everything. Trump, Gaza, Ukraine, the rise of facism. I don’t watch the news anymore so I can sleep at night and I feel helpless to make an impact on any of these situations. As a 5 year old immigrant to the UK in the 1970s bullied for being an immigrant, the George Cross has always made me feel uncomfortable and when I see it hanging from lampposts in the town where I live, outside a hotel containing people who have gone through hell to get here, I feel like I’m looking at a swastika and it fills me with dread. I enjoy writing dystopian fiction but it seems a bit pointless when we’re already living in it.

The second inauguration of the Orange Menace has impacted me, our country, and our planet negatively. Our planet is in deep trouble due to climate change, and this incompetent, avaricious administration is undoing the good of the Biden administration. This crisis is existential, and will not care about Party affiliation. Jews are endangered with a huge spike in antisemitism and hate crimes. Civil rights are under attack. News sources cannot be trusted to report accurately. The world has gone mad.

The war in Ukraine, genocide in Gaza, Cutting off funds to USAID program. Makes me so sad that innocents are being killed, that we stopped helping so many in need.

An awful man became president of a global superpower and is unleashing a sad, destructive, evil, dangerous, corrupt, ignorant, and tacky authoritarianism. More poverty, inequality, wars, violence, diseases and injustice will ensue for a long time. SMH!

The presidential election. Every day I see a dozen stories resulting from the election that cause me emotions ranging from misery to rage. And there are so many more stories not being told especially for each individual. The cruelty is not a "bug", it's a feature. It's a purpose. And half of America decided that this was good. There so much more - the continued wars for example. The tragedy of Gaza. Having a different president would not solve much of this, but it would still be better.

Charlie Kirk’s murder/ assasination It is making the divide larger between the right and the left, furthering the cause of Christian nationalism, and leaving some of those on neither side, feel alone.

The election of President Trump, the genocide of Palestinians and the continued war on our children. I am so worried about our family and am exhausted with everything. I am sad and feel like I can't protect my child from the atrocities of the world.

I mean... the slaughter and starvation of 60,000 people in the name of an land-grabbing project, and seeing how many people are willing to excuse it. I didn't know it was possible to be this disappointed, to sit with this much despair.

Freezing scientific research funding. I am applying to biomedical PhD programs this year but have no idea if I will be able to study women's health issues or if it will be labeled "DEI".

I don't know how to pick just one. The exponential rise of fascism and the justification of violence and the continued attacks on women, trans community, people of color - anyone who is not a christian white man that bows down to a fake suntanned wanna-be god. Knowing that so many people celebrate this and want this - how do we come back from it all? How do we keep living our lives and going? The hopelessness of it all- I'm feeling so lost and stuck and angry and don't know where to turn.

Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Granted, what Hamas did on 10/7 was horrific, Israel’s response has been so much worse. Genocide. Heartbreaking. Beyond comprehension.

The second coming of Trump. It’s heightened my sense of fear in the world. Whereas I felt a little less panicked before January 20th.

The trump presidency and all the horrible damage he and those around him are doing. It wasn't just one event, as it is something new every day. How Congress is completely capitulating to him is insane. And how corporate America is giving in to him. He is limiting free speech. He has horrible, unqualified people in all the cabinet positions, and they are decimating our country. The rise in anti-semitism to a level I have never seen before is terrifying. On a positive note, the protests around the country and the world have been a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

I feel like we maybe have to consider changing these questions. It feels like I'm answering the same question over and over. 2025: the year I was a little bitchy! Lol. The event in the world is tied between Donald Trump and Israel/Gaza. Everything has gone to shit.

The ongoing war in the Middle East and the increase in antisemitism. It is stressful and beleaguering.

We got to decide on a president and congress on November 5, 2024. I was shocked when Trump/Vance won. Not only won, but won decisively, with the GOP carrying both houses of Congress as well. The Republicans won all of the battleground states--PA, WI, NC, GA, AZ. I couldn't believe how well they did. We were defeated all over the USA. I asked myself, How did he win the Latino vote? The white woman vote? I felt horrible. I lost sleep worrying about Project 2025, Trump's volatility and how retributory he was going to be. As ineffective, deceitful and corrupt as his administration was the first time through, he's been far worse in this iteration. The Republicans are carrying out the wishes of the far right and the religious right and the very rich. They have gone after many of our institutions, including the press, the courts, cities, schools, foreign aid and diversity programs. They've crushed immigrants' rights, involved us needlessly in military conflicts, and embarrassed us on the world stage. They have cut services to the poor while lining the pockets of the very rich. They have murdered citizens of other countries under the name of counterterrorism. And that's just for starters. I look ahead and fear it's going to get worse. I am not sure if the election results were accurate, but what can I do? And who's to say Trump won't run for a third term? If I didn't have family here I would leave and not look back. That's a pretty cowardly response, but I don't have a better one at this point.

Trump's election. I feel like I'm in a world I don't understand. Everything seems tospy-turvy and full of funhouse mirrors. Wrong is right; lies are accepted; narratives are distorted; cruelty is "cool". It's been a distraction, a worry, a constant gnawing.

My worst fears came true when Trump was reelected. My idealism was shattered when I realized so many people thought he was a good idea, especially after the fiasco of his first term and just everything that is known about him. WHAT?!!! I cried as I told my husband what it meant, what was going to happen. He told me to stop, I was making myself sick, and then told me how the courts would prevent these things and our institutions would continue as they always had. BUT I WAS RIGHT! Everything I said has come to pass. All the people who have lost their jobs, all the people in fear of ICE, all the incompetency at every level, the loss of American prestige in the world, the loss of the right to free speech. I am demoralized, I am fearful for my neighbors, I am upset by friends who suddenly without warning found themselves jobless. And what about the poor? What about the disabled? What about veterans? What about the elderly? What about those who are "othered" for any and every reason? Life feels precarious, like trying to stand on an ice cube in the ocean.

The worldwide rise in antisemitism is both terrifying and draining. It is becoming not only acceptable but encouraged on the liberal left.

Death of Pope Francis. Pope Leo XIV will hopefully eliminate the suppression of The Latin Mass from the document Traditionis Custodes. There is no longer a weekly Latin Mass nearby and to attend one it is over 2 hours away.

Wow, so many. The election of Donald Trump to a second term, obvi. The erosion of democratic norms, of trust in government and trust and care for our fellow Americans/humans, flagrant disregard for the rule of law, for the rights of immigrants, for scientific evidence and expertise. It's scary and disheartening. I waver despair and anger, and tremendous hope and pride in the communities I am part of where we are standing up for our values. I pray for our strength to continue to uphold these values and to extend our connections and influence in the world.

The horrific desolation in Palestine and the famine and starvation of people there, especially children. It has changed my faith in Israel as an honorable nation, and my faith in other countries to force the release of the hostages. Why? Because I am a good person who believed that good would prevail in the world.

Obviously the election of Trump as president. Such hatred and vitriol. Empowering those like him to be hate-filled. On my cruise this month, there was a guy in the cabin next to me who I thought was a redneck. But then I heard him saying to his other neighbor, So you think it's okay to just grab people off the street without warning? That's not the country I fought for. That gave me some hope. But Trump is determined to bring back un-civil rights, to eliminate the ability to vote, to erase slavery from US history. It's shameful.

The Presidential Election happened. It went terribly. Donald Trump has become President once more and he has DEVASTATED the Federal Gov't. He has fired over 15,000 people in MD alone and is instituting authoritarian policies daily. He has sent the national guard into cities without the request of the the state's governor, he denies any statistics/information he disagrees with, he has put RFK Jr. in charge of HHS and our health is actively being endangered. ICE swarms cities in masks akin to a gestapo force disappearing people from the street, often in broad daylight. The Trump administration frequently breaks laws, for instance DAY 1 when he allowed TikTok to resume operations, that was against the law. The rule of law means nothing to this administration. The FCC is now a lapdog, happily doing whatever Donald commands and free speech is threatened. Charlie Kirk was tragically killed, and at his "memorial" Steve Miller gives a speech that closely mimics Joseph Goebbels. We are in the darkest timeline.

The rise of MAGA and all the awful things that go with it.

No brainer: the rise of American fascism with the institution of Trump, Miller, Thule, Musk, Vance... It is unbelievable how quickly this has turned into a place of cruelty and fear. It wasn't a safe haven for all beforehand, but the aggressive deconstruction of our country is devastating. The guardrails are off, and I fear that we are in a period like Germany as Hitler rose to power - first as a laughingstock, then as a dictator. The impact on me? In all ways I feel required to stand up in the face of it, and I feel completely inadequate in the face of it. I see the dismantling of science at the university where I work and the destruction of people's research and careers and training programs. It's hard to be here now.

My mom and dad were incarcerated and I went to live with my grandparents. My dad passed while he was incarcerated so I never got to meet him. My sister passed away in 2017. My grandad passed due to covid. My brother had cancer and almost passed like 3 times.

Ukraine is still fighting off an invading army. Gaza is fighting for its life. The world is burning, and it's scary.

OMG - re-election (after purging voters in TX, etc.) of the orange menace. Still some hostages not returned. Climate change acceleration. I have honestly lost some hope that we can live in a democracy where law is respected, and that our nation can participate in a principled way with other countries and NGOs (hamas) on the planet. Depressing. Hard to find my mojo some days.

Between Trump in the White House and the war in Gaza, I just feel the general unrest around me. Both fear itself and fear mongering feels ramped up. This is giving me the opportunity to generate and practice more ways to recognize when I'm pulled out of center and then to endeavor to return to centeredness to the best of my ability at the time. This, plus sharing with others what is helping me, is showing me that by learning and staying in the work myself I am serving my fellows, which is fulfilling my life's mission.

UGHHHHH Trump won the election, unbelievably! It has been hell ever since. I never would have believed that my country would have a blatantly fascist president. But it's happening every day - him silencing those that disagree with him or hold him accountable. It's even worse than I imagined. He's shutting down vaccines, deporting people using the National Guard and ICE all over the country (even citizens), he's killing our economy and causing a ton of unemployment. He denies climate change and is shutting down every sustainability program. On and on. Horrific. I shudder to think of what lies ahead. I wouldn't be surprised if he declared war during his term. And he will probably refuse to leave office. What a monster.

The extinction of the palestinian people by a powerful , extreme Right-Wing israeli government. And the fact that José is finding reasons to agree with that.

Jesus Christ. The rise of fascism in the United States. We've always had a problem, but nothing like this. I really am personally concerned for my and my family's safety, because there are people who are happy to kill me.

The Trump win severely affected my life because it made the world a lot more scary. His administration has done so much to destroy what America means to me and I want to fight back. The continuing devastation in Gaza has made me view Israel and the entire Jewish community differently. It is just so wrong and does not make sense at all. On a positive note, the Eagles won the Super Bowl and that was extremely fun.

Finding Scott Dworking on substack pull me out of despair over the political situation that is damaging our precious democracy! I will never forget the day when I was 5 years old sitting in the den watching our brand new boxy RV with it's 12 inch screee on. I was transfixed with panelist debating current topics about what values America needed to uphold. After each discussion the audience stood up to find out which side won the debate. I hear my mother call from the kitchen, "Why are you jumping up?" I said, "they want to know which side I think won." I knew that was Democracy and I just knew how special it was. I love American Democracy where the people decide the direction based on values, not an autocrat or a king.

The election of Trump and the shift of this administration has affected me so much this year. That choice by so many people had made my life so much less secure, strained my mental health, tested my families finances, etc. My spouse, who was a congressionally appointed Fed., was illegally fired on February 13. In an instant we lost health insurance for our child, and our primary income. For the next two months as the battle played out in court we lived off of our savings and the generosity of our Jewish community. Her name was slandered by DOGE, dragged through the courts, and she had to testify against the administration. Meanwhile, I was trying ot keep life "normal" for our toddler, maintain my full-time job, and manage a house that was unraveling. After two months she was reinstated by the courts, and then told to cease and desist from doing her actual job. While our financial security was reinstated for a few months, her passion and spiritual commitment to her work was shattered. It has been a horrible, unprecedented few months that are changing the course of our lives forever.

Where to start? The year started with an incompetent, angry, racist, sexist, homophobic, and all around nasty man taking the office of Presidency. Not only was that difficult to watch, but seeing all of the other racist, homophobic, sexist, crazy people feel that it was now okay to show their true colors EVERYWHERE they go. Online, in work places, in line at the grocery store; hate has been spewing from so many people. The hard part is seeing people that I once thought to be caring and loving of all people, suddenly feel it was okay to be openly hateful. I have watched people I love suffer because of laws illegally bring written by the "government" and people stripped of their fundamental human rights. I spent a long time with a broken heart, worrying about the impact that one group of people who made it into Government positions, have on the entire world. Those on Medical, detainees, sexual abuse survivors, transgender folx, LGBTQ+, those with developmental disabilities, immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and POC, all are living in fear, when this country should be about loving diversity and being the land of the free.

I guess the October 7th war. I know it has been going on for two years now but I still can't shake it. It has impacted a lot of my world views. Like, I used to be way more on the Left politically but the more I see left wing politicians the more I feel like I am not represented by them, they do not care about my community. It has also reshaped how I view people and how I introduce myself to people in case they start to criticize a country that they do not know enough about. If people realized that wars are between governments and not people, the world would be a better place and that way we could live in a peaceful world. I have lost friendships because of this. and maybe it was for the best because if they cannot stand a country they barely or not know at all then I cannot stand them.

Trump becoming president and presiding as a king & telling lies about those he doesn't agree with and removing a lot of the safety net world wide

The Air Canada strike left us stranded in Paris which was stressful and continues to be a source of anxiety while we wait to see if we are reimbursed the $8,500 we are out of pocket. Ultimately it did make me realize how lucky we are to have friends, family and a wide safety net.

Gaza, Ukraine and the overall indifference toward human life. Surprised but not surprised to see history repeat itself. Sad to see US stumble from a thought leader to a populist nation. But reassured that this is cyclical and part of human life

I bet this will be a common one. DJT as president is a daily impact on morale. Even when deliberately avoiding news and happenings, he is a cancerous and terrible person and it's greatly affecting my mood on a daily basis. I think he is the single contributor to the depression of a lot of people.

Clearly Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza. As much as I dislike Trump he clearly saved Israel and possibly the world by obliterating Iran nuclear facilities. However the threat he poses to American democracy is real. Democrats are becoming more leftist and more anti Israel, republicans more authoritarian. The 80 year disruption may be upon us including the threat of a depression and market crash, even though the market is in an all time high at this time.

The 2024 presidential election and the resulting changes in the federal government, plus the direction the Supreme Court has taken. I'm trying to sort out which changes I simply disagree with and which are truly frightening and maybe evil: the consolidation of power in the presidency, erosion of human and civil rights, the complicit Supreme Court. Plus category three - the policy statements that have no meaning because they are reversed within days of their announcement. Pete died days before the election. He would have been distraught at the outcome. I keep thinking that if he had survived the sepsis, the aftermath of election on the heels of his illness would have been hard on him. Every day when I read the lunacy that comes out of the president's mouth, I feel relief that Pete didn't have to live in this time.

This second Trump presidency. Russia, Hamas. General feelings of instability and the end of truth as a value. Measles. So many little people with measles. It’s been a hard year to be in medicine. I wish I had something more uplifting. Like to be able to say that opioids were not killing so many. But I’m hopeful that next year, no more fentanyl.

You know, just recently, Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air for saying stuff about trump and Charlie Kirk. We mobilized so fast to cancel our Hulu and Disney accounts and within a week he got reinstated. There was something about that that felt like a major win- companies will listen to boycotts. And then I participated in my first JVP action which was mixed but felt good.

Trumps success at screwing things up has made me feel sad and hopeless that this country will never be the same again.

Donald Trump’s presidency and deploying ICE and federal troops in DC. Has created a sense of fear and awakening to the plight of my neighbors.

Our neighborhood burned on January 7, 2025, leaving us evacuated for almost 3 weeks and devastated by the loss of our local neighbors. The uncertainty, the brutality, the localness, the out of control, the sheer impact on so many we know and the reverberations both here and in Altadena created a vulnerability I’ve never quite experienced.

The administration and ICE on Los Angeles have deeply affected me emotionally and spiritually. I can't comprehend the cruelty involved in arresting hardworking people who are just trying to make a better life for themselves. It has affected our economy and even our public safety -- having food stands on the corner means never having to walk home alone at night. It is deeply affected my non-profit clients, who are worried about how they will survive now that their grants have been rescinded. They are also worried about their clients many of whom are economically vulnerable and undocumented.

The current US government is shredding our constitution. Every. Single. Day. I'm very much afraid of what is coming.

9/11: I was 25 & it was when I became a futurist. I knew where we were going as a country from that moment to today. My extended family thought I was a pessimist and over time, they watched my “prediction” come true. It sucks because I didn’t want to be right and there was nothing I could do.

AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG UM. What can any of us say? The world. On fire. Idiocracy in action. Genocide. Sprinting backward. Rights and agency and lives wiped out. And our humanity (and job market) is being subsumed by the collective robot voice of a billions of our own data points. Impact on me: psychological and emotional for the most part, so far, if it's just my own life and person, but I am witnessing real fear around me, bigotry. If I delve into the virtual world, I get to experience bigotry (misogyny) first hand, but I'm avoiding that. What WILL come for me if it continues on this path is decrease in information getting to me, being able to speak my mind and experience free art and culture in my life. I know my income will plummet and costs will rise. I know my environment will deteriorate around me and I'll be ashamed at what my kids are inheriting. I am scared, angry, disgusted, and devastated every single day. Now, I'm trying to get un-paralyzed and not stick my head in the sand (for me, that doesn't mean I am uninformed, as I am incapable of that--but it means that I avoid activism and the sand is my home). I am actively working against GenAI in my work place by emphasizing student agency and voice and learning. It's my little contributed droplet in the ocean of now.

The election of Donald Trump has affected me profoundly. I am watching the destruction of democracy and of the social safety net. I thought I would retire next year at this time and start a part-time consulting practice, but with tens of thousands of former federal employees doing just that, it seems an inauspicious time to do that. Now, I am planning to take a year of exploration to see whether I have the gumption to be a solo expat and where I might best live. I never thought I would be looking to leave my country, my home at this age. But with the active recruitment of white supremacists to ICE -- the creation of Trump's own Brownshirts -- I am at a loss for what to do. I have fought for human rights, for health equity for almost four decades, now it may be time to step back and regroup, to create an exit route for my transgender daughter and seek a place where I can afford health care. We have not hit bottom yet and I am not sure that I want to stay to see it. By the same token, I am not sure that I have what it takes to give up community, familiarity, my physical home to live abroad by myself. So, I will create an opportunity to experiment.

Ugh, ugh, ugh.... we know that event. His effing reelection and a black woman being turned down as president. That just affected everything (work, the world, the earth etc). It's really hard to be here and know that we are essentially now living under a hateful authoritarian regime. it's really making me focus on my mental health (that just cracks under burnout at work ), reevaluate priorities and stick to my values. I've had to strengthen everything really to be able to not collapse into despair and negativity.

Hoo, boy, the US election! My friends are threatened, the cost of everything has gone through the roof, the organizations that traditionally work with our journal are losing funding or being defunded entirely, and the small overseas business that I work with can’t ship to the USA due to tariff issues. It is impacting every area of my life.

Trump's election. Enough said.

With the Republicans taking office in the US, I've realized my beliefs are really being challenged. I'm fortunate to not be an American but it still affects me. There is so much divisiness and the world is a challenging place with so many strong and often ridiculous opinions. I really prefer to focus on my own business and stay away from the negativity.

Trump's presidency--He's out of control, limiting the power of free speech, and rounding up immigrants. Total power grab, like communism. Course he's best friends with Putin, so what do you expect. Impeach him!!

Donald Trump being reelected has been a big one. He has caused so much chaos and hate. It’s very sad to see history repeating itself in the USA and how little he cares for the people that live there. Both the Israel/Palestine and Ukraine/Russia wars as it is stressful to see governments making decisions that kill innocent people on all sides. It makes my heart feel heavy.

The world just feels like it is falling apart even more. Nowhere feels safe and I feel like people are losing their minds. It's so strange to feel that everyone is going nuts, while I have stayed fairly the same. It's not to say that I am not affected or traumatized by what is happening in America or Israel. But it is strange to see people stop using their critical thinking skills, spout of nonsense, and argue for the sake of arguing or hearing their own voices. I guess it's the closest thing to a zombie apocalypse that I will ever witness.

The reelection of Trump as president was a profound disappointment and the things he is doing to the economy and political climate has me deeply concerned and uneasy. I am concerned that my hope to financially independent in retirement are at risk with this unsound administration that seems bent to hurt the middle class while helping the richest people. My son's family relocated to Israel near his wife's family this year. The continuing war in Gaza and lose of world wide support for Israel may make life difficult for them. I worry that he will not find a job in Israel that will allow him to provide for his family.

While it’s not a specific event that happened to me or the world at any specific point in the past year, the now fairly normal adaptation of AI and Chat GPT into every day life has really had a big impact on me. I now draft emails, write article, create quizzes and practice questions at school and even brainstorm gift ideas using AI. I hear about it from colleagues in education and in other industries and it seems as if the adaptation is very ubiquitous at this point. I recently had a student (Mary) tell me about why AI was bad and for her it was mostly about the carbon footprint interestingly enough. I think a lot of the younger generation contrary to what people might think, is skeptical about adopting AI, and I think it’s for good reason. I am also nervous about what’s to come and the fact that we were instructed to use AI to fill out a pointless unit planner (unpacker document) by the school themselves suggests worry. Pretty soon a lot of our work might just be bots talking to bots. I even got a customer service email recently that seemed like it was generated from AI from mellow mushroom after a negative experience there. The use of AI at school has drastically reduced some types of work and I am open to the idea of adopting it more. Especially if it means I don’t have to drive as much. I hope to try a Waymo sometime this year. I’ve been seeing those all around Atlanta too. Again, I don’t know that this year marks a particularly special year as far as AI goes but the topic being frequently mentioned in the news and now regular references to people talking about how they just “chat GPT’ed something” and it’s very use a verb, suggests that we are indeed living in a new era.

The embrace of far-right conservative ideology and its various discriminations, biases, and stripping of human and civil rights has been distressing. I’ve had to train myself to distill the news cycle, support the battles I can, and meditate for my mental health. We must keep pumping silver into the edges of these dark clouds. I imagine it’s worse for the Jewish population to see a rise in anti-semitism while witnessing the violent authoritarian regime of Netanyahu.

The state of affairs in America with their president Trump making certain announcements regarding certain things that affect women and the LGBTQ communities in particular as I am a woman and a part of LGBTQ and had hoped to visit America again at some point but now that feels almost impossible which is a shame as we have friends who live there.

Israel's assault on Gaza continues to impact me. My heart breaks for the people of Palestine. And, perhaps shamefully, I keep looking away, because the imagery is so disturbing. I've become completely disillusioned with the narrative that Israel could ever be a "light unto nations" amidst this genocidal campaign. I feel powerless to do anything about it. I also don't know how to navigate conversations about it. I continue to feel defensive when talking to non-Jews who are so quick to say that all Israelis are oppressors, yet I also struggle in conversations with other Jews (at work and elsewhere) who continue to parrot hasbara in response to legitimate questions about the morality of ANY nationalist project. The world is a narrow bridge, and I'm very afraid of saying the wrong thing. I often feel alone. And, of course, Trump was reelected, and Project 2025 is in full swing. It's very scary to see the scapegoating of trans people and the violent, heartless ethnic cleansing of immigrants. And it's harder to fight back than it was in Trump's first term because the destruction has unfolded at such a relentless pace.

Killing of Charles Kirk in Utah. The murder of someone who is voicing is opinion is very frightening. I think Social Media and the media are having a detrimental effect on people. We need to protect our rights and freedoms.

The flooding in Texas and the loss of so many girls and families was heartbreaking. Seeing stories of girls sharing courage and hope with others was inspirational. While it didn't directly impact my family, it makes me remember the importance of telling people I love them, and taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time with them while I can, and the power of peace that comes from a relationship with Jesus.

Trump’s second term started in January 2025. It has changed everything in the world. The European / US trade accords are gone. The military alliances are all over the place. The people of Gaza are being destroyed.. it’s so heartbreaking. He made a speech yesterday about silencing any media in America that criticises his administration. It’s a new world order… I had hoped that my answer to last years question was a low point from which we would recover but we have descended to a new low .. one that I could never have foreseen… even my typing this is making me slightly nervous as criticism of the Trump regime is so dangerous in the US… could my criticism here come back to haunt me in some way?

I am appalled by the awful changes in the US under this administration. How are we backsliding so badly in terms of human rights?!?! How are we going to survive the next 3+ years? When will this tyranny stop??

The ongoing annihilation of *hundreds of thousands* of innocent Palestinian lives - fathers, mothers, newborns, children my kids' age. The silence of my (former) friends. The turning away, the widespread refusal to say the word for what this is: genocide. The targeting of those who speak out for humanity, the witch hunts. And the brave voices of my anti-Zionist Jewish community, the moral clarity, the true courage.

Gaza. As a Jew, I despise the terrorists and everything they stand for. And Hamas is a terrorist group. On the other hand, also as a Jew, I am ashamed of Netanyahu and the Israeli government - pure displays of power are not the way to peace.

The Trump administration in office. Destroying whatever is good in the Federal Government, weaponizing what is left. Destroying progress towards environmental protections, protections for the poor and the children. Destroying the safety net and education and culture. It is just incredible.

There is SO MUCH muzzle velocity every day coming out of Trump and his minions. Probably the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. Biden started this by not calling out the oppression of free speech, by continuing to fund Israel. And it’s only gotten worse. The brutality of murdering children and infants through bombs, guns, starvation is beyond unconscionable. That people in this country look away, or worse, condone it, has given me an ongoing sense of feeling isolated and despairing. How to go on with regular life when I’m complicit in the worst possible atrocities humans can do to other humans.

There have been so many events this year that have felt so heavy, it’s hard to keep track. But I felt truly devastated when Trump was reelected this year. I really felt like there was a good chance that Kamala could win, and I was so excited about the idea of a black woman president. I felt blindsided by how swiftly he took it, and then felt shame that I didn’t prepare myself for the possibility that he could get elected again. It felt like reliving the nightmare of 2016, and I felt like I should have learned from the first time. But now looking back, I’m glad that I was able to feel hope and excitement for the future. It’s been so hard to feel optimistic about the state of the world in recent years, and it keeps driving me away from wanting to know what’s happening or trying to do anything to resist what’s happening. I hear more and more people sharing the same sentiment, and it worries me that people feel defeated and are turning a blind eye to what’s happening. And I feel guilty that I’m a part of that group. But there’s some comfort in knowing I’m not alone in those feelings, and I know that I need to take care of myself as well. I really hope that this time next year there’s some better news, or at least a feeling of looking towards a future that could be better.

The election of an authoritarian dictator. I’ve never seen our nation hit so hard with a sledgehammer of idiotic cruelty. It's so depressing and scary. All recourse—judges, Congress, the international community, protests—seems ineffectual. I’ve learned from history. But I feel helpless to stop it from repeating. (I’m so glad my grandmother isn’t alive to see this, after escaping Nazism.) I could escape, but what kind of cowardice is that, to leave everyone I care about (incl. my elderly parents!) here in the mess? I’m encouraging my daughter to move to Europe after high school. Even though that might mean we’d live on different continents.

Who could say anything but "The election of Donald Trump"? This strangely gifted man seems bound and determined to end the US experiment in democratic rule. It is particularly fascinating and discouraging to see how much of the country supports him in this. The Liberal Left has really blown it with its single-minded dismissal of half the population. The chickens have come home to roost, methinks. Yet I remain optimistic that in the end the US will remain standing, perhaps stronger than ever. But I fear Trump may be heading for war now, as surely he has been told that this is how American presidents are ultimately judged, and it is a surefire way to get people and the press to fall in line.

I am terrified of our new president. To think that he has another 3 1/2 years to continue to destroy our democracy!

What hasn't? The combination of Trump's war on America and Israel's war on Gaza and neighboring countries -- and my sense of doom and powerlessness in relation to both -- is challenging, in part because both make me sad, angry, and afraid, yet for both, there is little immediate impact on my life, so I also feel oddly distant. And I don't like that.

Omg where can I begin? The Supreme Court and Congress allowing the executive brach to become the fascist totalitarian anti-democratic stain on our republic

Israel's genocide of Palestinians coinciding with my becoming a mother has been doubly devastating to witness. Seeing the babies and children starving and knowing that a mother loves that baby so much. Her little feet, hands, the smell of her hair. Knowing she's wasting away because the mother doesn't have enough food and water to be able to breastfeed. The countless horrific bombs on tents and hospitals and houses families called home, and bullets ripping through skin and bones and brains. It's all just too much. And my tax dollars fund this. It is so depressing and overwhelming and hypocritical and hateful and evil.

Same as last year-- genocide in Gaza, funded and supported by my own country, the USA. It's such a horror. Obvs now we also have a crazy person in the White house, surrounded by a bunch of wingnuts and incompetents, so there's also the daily dose of ridiculous national news to round out my day.

Election day 2024 - I had a bad feeling it was going to pan out the way it did and I was right. Every day, something new and horrific comes to pass. All I can do is to try to insulate and protect myself and my children from the next set of horrors. It's hard to think about the longterm future in times like this.

Donald Trump was elected president again, and began his second term in January. ICE has gone bonkers kidnapping immigrants, RFK Jr has taken over like every part of the gov't related to healthcare and is promoting nonsense, and they are shutting down dissenting voices. It's all just really scary. So many people are OK with ridiculous cruelty, and it feels like no one cares about science.

47 winning the election. Watching the destruction of democracy hurts deeply. Federal changes to funding streams made me lose my job along with countless others. Just too many things to name as this lunatic panders to the rich and shits on everyone else.

Опять же смерть Чарли. Это большая грусть, но из-за такой потери, я больше благодарна что я часть Тела Христа. Я часть Его плана. Да, пока мы на земле в человеческом теле, нам сложно что убили Божьего человека. И такого сильного, мощного, честного, горящего. Но в Духе - он рядом со своим Спасителем! Хочется мне обнять жену Эрику. Пусть особенное благословение будет над ней и её детками.

Turns out the fears expressed in last year's answer were well founded. The incompetence and destruction coming from the Oval office is staggering. We all knew it would be bad, but not even I expected things to be this bad, this soon. The world is in a horrifying place and it takes effort everyday to do positive things, and to keep a positive mindset. It's very hard work, but the alternative is unacceptable.

The ongoing wars in Israel. Israel’s efforts to bring the hostages home, defend against attacks from five different groups, and the rising antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment I see on social media I find unsettling and deeply upsetting. At the same time, the fact that the missiles launched from Iran, the Houthis, Gaza, Hezbollah, and others were miraculously intercepted is something I thank HaShem for every day. His protection over Israel is a true miracle.

Overall shootings and violence but most important the one in Minneapolis. Happened right before school started and had us redirect so many aspects of how we start, during and end the day. Between that and the individuals with being shot and people just thinking thats a proper way and then point fingers instead of coming together as one.

The new administration has been devastating to me. The heightened attacks on my own and other communities, the authoritarian political repression escalating into outright fascism, the explicit and unabashed commitment to perpetrating unspeakable violence around the world... I feel that I am watching humanity's hope for a better world crumble around me and I feel powerless to stop it.

Trump- changed my sense of safety - my trust in the masses and opened my eyes to the complexity of media. AI a close second, an event has occurred but the when and where's are not defined

The polarising geopolitical climate of all the nations in the world, as well as the boom in casual racism towards Indians, has affected my decision regarding where I want to pursue my master's. This event has had a profound impact on how I view the world, as well as on how my education will be affected in the years to come.

The election of Donald Trumo, has not only changed my life, but it's changed the world. Division now is the norm, no longer do we come together, we just look for excuses to blame someone we don't agree with.

President Trump was elected again, much to my great personal misfortune. Now I have to commute to the office, which absorbs about 10 hours of my week. It is not making me a more productive federal employee, but it’s costing me a lot of gas money and taking time away from being with my children.

FASCISM GENOCIDE

Oh no! The events that have happened in this country (and this world) in the past year have been so, so discouraging that I don't even know what to say. Donald Trump and his government have done so very much damage, and continue to do so on an almost daily basis. I feel worried, angry, disgusted, and helpless.

Seems a bit trite to say, but Trump becoming president and ... simply being Trump. V1 was bad enough but Trump V2 is bad bad. It's effected my employer, my friends, the refugees that I know. It's separated people and made it hard to have actual conversations about the current events. And it's not been a year yet

Pretty much everything the current Administration is doing, especially using what I describe as mercenaries (but they call "ICE agents") to remove people and detain and/or deport them without due process and without regard for their families or basic human rights. This country continues to fall into a deep and dangerous abyss and it terrifies me.

Trump becoming President again has had a big impact. As a result, so many terrible things are happening to so many people, and so many of our important institutions are being destroyed, that it's hard to keep up and it's all disheartening. I fear for the future of democracy in our country, and I don't know when or even if we're going to be able to turn things around.

This freaking 'presidential' administration, which amounts to a hostile takeover in my eyes. Watching it all happen is exhausting, though the good moments are golden. People are waking up. But other people are being needlessly harmed at an alarming rate. Personally, it's great fodder for learning to hold my boundaries. There's a limit to what I can do, a limit to what I can take, and only I can protect my sanity. I need to care for myself and stay strong for any efforts I can contribute.

I'm sure many people are saying this, but the dismantling of our democracy and the welfare state -- not to mention the environment -- is massively dismaying. I still believe we can reverse things, or rather, move to a better stage than we are at now -- reversal isn't really possible. But it's overwhelming. I think it takes everyone's wellbeing down a notch, which affects their ability to handle other blows.

election of trump and the destruction of human rights and dignity. pandering by every business. Fecklessness of Republication lawmakers effect on me = anxiety about the future; fear - but at the same time, counting my good fortune - which adds to my guilt.

The destruction of Gaza has shaken me to the core of my Jewishness, made Jews a target for antisemitism, created a rift in the Jewish community. I'd moved to a new city and hoped to build friendships through the Jewish community, but it's so fractured, that I feel there's a litmus test of where one stands. I haven't found a comfortable place yet: do I go with my traditional synagogue or with the one that matches my outrage over Gaza?

Absolutely not. I don't do world events because everything is terrifying. Charlie Kirk was shot, and I had no idea who he was, or that my lovely daughter had watched hours and hours and hours of his videos. And that she watched the up-close video of his death. And that she didn't see anything wrong with a 15 year old watching that. Then she got lightheaded. Ya think? But the whole thing unravels too directly - this is an impact of that, is an impact of global policy, he is (was) a cause and an effect of our current President. And our current President affect so much. So no. I don't do global events. It leads to madness.

The current president and his influence has had, is having, a profound influence in the world, to my world, even though of course I am as safe as I can get: an old white woman. But it is shocking to my sense of truth and justice that so many solid institutions have fallen to his strong arm tactics. But the effect on me, and in my small community orbit, is to double down on what is important: growing food and volunteering are political and socially important acts. I see it around me, we live our values. Connection and community and living simply is the way through the current madness. No illusions about any larger impact by focusing on the immediate. It is what is necessary for my heart. To live in tune with truth and beauty. The long game.

Rising antisemitism. I converted in January and I would not change that for anything but it has felt like Gd really said oh you want to be a Jew let me show you what that’s like. I experienced horrifying antisemitism from my brother when I was at a very low point asking for help while trying to escape DV. It ended our relationship and I’ve cut him off. My DV in-laws used antisemitism to abuse me. And seeing hateful signs and people in my area has shaken me. But, I leaned into my Jewish community, especially for help. The more hate directed at me the more I turned toward them. My community embraced me with open arms. I know that one result of what I’ve endured was finding strength and hope in and through them. They showed up in ways I’ve always wanted and truly revealed these are my people, this is where I belong. I don’t think I would’ve known that the way I do now without experiencing what I did, as world shattering as it was.

An event would prob be what happened in Epping - bought it all close to home and has made me think more deeply about the whole immigration issue

oh man. so many. this isn't one isolated event, but the Trump administration's repeated targeting of trans folks and blaming them for basically everything would definitely fit the bill. it makes me anxious and scared, has me wondering how my family should decide if/when it's time to leave the country, and more.

Donald Trumps election. The hate that has been spewed towards people I love and care about. The misogyny and spewing of misinformation by him and his supporters is insane. I work in healthcare, the increase in unvaccinated children that are severely ill, with diseases that “are making a comeback” is so sad .

The ongoing genocide in Gaza has really shaken my faith. I know that I should be able to differentiate between being Jewish and supporting Israel no matter what, but I still feel incredibly conflicted. On one hand, the state of Israel was very important to my grandparents and has cultural relevance to Jews. At the same time, Zionism feels like a blight on the country, with racism and violence seeming to serve as the foundation of the movement. I find it very difficult to maintain a Jewish life when I am so upset about this genocide and Israel apologists. I struggle to reconcile the fact that the creation of the Jewish State and the Nakba are one and the same. Without addressing this fundamental transgression, peace will never be established.

De genocide in Gaza raakt mij diep in mijn hart en in mijn ziel. Ook als je het woord genocide niet wil gebruiken, is het in mijn ogen volstrekt onmenselijk en niet te verdedigen of goed te praten. Onvoorstelbaar dat dit gebeurt door een zich joods noemende regering van een zich joods noemend land.

Negative impacts include: The long wars between the Hamas and Israel, Russia and Ukraine and learning of others elsewhere because peace cannot coexist with killing, war, hatred. The U.S. political corruption that has come about since the new POTUS stole the election. That in itself has caused so much hatred, racism, chaos, anger, injustice to increase a hundred-fold. Not only here in America but also abroad. The passing of my sister was both painful and positive in a spiritual sense. I cannot answer why because it is beyond me. Positive:

Not withstanding the war,I would say that Trump’s increasingly unhinged rhetoric combined with RFK’s fictions about most health related concerns, his entire cabinet’s mishandling of the rule of law, not to mention humanity or justice, has left me bereft of hope and continuously stunned. The world is suffering and quite possibly we are going to experience greater infringements on our freedom to engage in civil discourse. The Supreme Court is an abomination. What is left? Somehow, we the people must find our courage and fight back.

no contest here! It’s the Israel aggression/defense against Plaza, and the ensuing loss of lies, hardship, starvation. it has impacted us everywhere, and it sits heavy on our conscience. and I can’t really talk about it with anybody, because I love Israel.

(The election of course.) It's worse the second time. He and his cronies had a plan in place this time. Everything I hold dear about our country, and most of what I believe about my fellow humans, feels at risk. There are many things to blame (and I include my minimal activism) but it feels like my ideals are being crushed daily.

Trump. Unlike his previous term, he is far more effective in executing an agenda that authoritarian, nationalistic, hate-filled, and damaging to the economy and to human lives. He has executed massive cuts to education, engaged in massive deportations and arrests, added ridiculous tariffs that have harmed the national and global economy, and cracked down on free speech. Thousands of people in government have lost jobs. His administration is also filled with misogyny and extreme partisanship. JD Vance and others have called for purging democrats from leadership positions. Similarly women, especially women without children and women who are not Christian are under attack. The idea of women making decisions is offensive to this administration. I have a hard time engaging in the news, and yet I must get more active.

Oh, easily the Trump administration's dismantling of the federal government is a no brainer of a high impact, on-going event.

While it makes sense to say the beginning of the second Trump administration, it's less about that one day in January and more about the cumulative impact of his presidency on the country and the world. Each day, the flood of news is unrelenting. There's such a torrent that you can barely process one story before there's another alert. It's an effective tactic to keep the reporters busy and the public so flooded they can't keep up with what's really happening. The hammering away at our rights and protections is getting lost in the melee. People are being stolen from their homes and sent to foreign prisons. News outlets are cowering to his demands. Bipartisan agencies are being gutted and staffed with his cronies. Science is being replaced by witchcraft and debunked voodoo. Diseases that were nearly unknown in the U.S. are making a comeback. Strides forward to address climate change have been undone. Protections for the underserved and weakest among us are being disbanded. Partisan violence is escalating. National Guard troops are being dispatched to cities as they create a spirit of martial law. Unemployment is up. Tariffs are being slapped on our global friends. Our enemies are emboldened, and rhetoric is hollow. Conservative and far-right pundits spout Great Replacement nonsense and stoke antisemitism. The richest of the rich are benefiting, and everyone else is suffering. Honestly, it feels as if the political divide is becoming so wide that there's no bridging the gulf. People cannot or will not talk with each other. We're hunkered down in our little echo chambers, each side grasping their hankies and saying the world is ending. I'm not sure what will happen with this country. Are we entering the twilight of America? Will Trump declare himself president for life? Will this become like The Handmaid's Tale? Things are fracturing and changing. I have no idea what will become of us. It's scary and horrifying. The events come at us in waves. They crash over us so we can't catch a breath. While I feel safe in my community for the moment, I don't think it's a guarantee. And given what's happening in Israel and around the world for Jews, I have no feeling of comfort that it's any better there.

Again... war. But specifically the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. Being there and experiencing firsthand made me realize how people in the US love to form opinions without knowing much, or how false information (like the US embassy getting hit) spreads.

UGH! The election of the orange menace as president. 8647 NOW! Everything I value is on the chopping block. This event has caused so much damage we’re in constant collective grief and trauma and fear. AND we’re not giving up! https://open.spotify.com/track/2oHE2V9cF5eOaNDHTmHGrT?si=c-FbPMVASwORpl8ZQadeuA&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A4xkt6Pgebudahslx9QJSFb

Trump winning another election has me completely deflated. I am glad I am in Canada but I am fearful for what is happening to my neighbours to the south.

The destruction of Gaza has shaken me up. I feel a strong need to foster a Judaism that is not linked up with land but with values that I can be proud to hand down to my grandchildren and to the chain of Judaism going forward.

Trump taking power is the only answer. He impacts me and everyone. He’s incoherent, evil, hateful, ignorant, vengeful, unAmerican, prejudiced, and simply an awful human being. He’s trying to remake America, and his awful impact here and abroad will last too long. I try to speak out and act against because he cannot just blithely steamroll through our laws and sacred traditions.

1.The fires. (Again) but these were worse than before, in uncompensated losses so far but the "egregious environmental insult" feeling like it will cost me everything if even make it the 10-15 years for the effects to show. To live at ground zero which has burned again and again, and my lungs no longer hold the elastic, the breath is jagged without the rhythm in tune with my heart. To take breath is a miracle I do not take for granted this year. 2. The war with no end, across the world from me in galut, but in my heart's only home, with only losses that feel like we're inevitably sliding to the world implementing the final solution, one by one. And when am I next? We are fighting back but even the infighting from mainline institutions, to center the pain of amalek over our own survival seriously diminishes my hope of winning together. The 80% didn't make it out of Egypt but by following Hashem with my heart, the hope is that i will make it in the 20% that do. The 80% didn't deserve to lose any more than I will deserve to win but winning is survival. I will not make peace through concede to those who will rejoice in my extinction. As Tanta Golda said, better to be alive and hated than dead to pity. L'chaim.

It’s going to be practically the same as last year. Politicians on the right in major powerhouses spouting nationalist, facist untruths which are polarising the world. I feel more unsafe in my own country than ever before and am struggling to find hope.

OMG, the election of Trump was the worst thing imaginable that could have happened and surprisingly or perhaps, not so surprisingly did happen. Iit signals the end of Democracy as we have been imbued to know it since our earliest education. All that we value in governing is gone or going as losing everything doesn't happen overnight, but is rather a slow bleed not knowing if we can staunch or at least partially staunch the flow. I must say on another level, my personal life is not affected as others are like those departed to tortuous prisons in far away countries. It shows we simultaneously live in 2 worlds. I wrote about this last year before the election, and now my nightmare has come true.

TRUMP....horrific...'nuff said.

The elephant in the room (literally) is Trump getting re-elected. What a colossal disappointment, and I'm seeing friends and loved ones impacted directly, whether it's through their employment, their sexual orientation, their race or gender. I work for an educational nonprofit, and see firsthand how budget cuts affect our services. I knew it would be bad, but I didn't realize how bad it would get so fast. Ruled by a confederacy of dunces, who are cruel and bigoted on top of it all.

Of course, it is Trump being inaugurated and systematically dismantling the American government which has served us well for almost 250 years. His actions have left me feeling scared, anxious, furious, incensed, helpless, horrified, ashamed, curious. I have gone inward to find my SELF so I can get more grounded so I don’t explode or self-destruct in anxiety. I have decided that the best I can do is find ways to be happy and content, to love, to be as kind as possible, to gather community, to do what brings me joy. And I also go to demonstrations and call my Senators and Congresswoman and spread info on FB and IG and make art that shares my understanding of things. I am learning to be deeply gentle with myself and others and to rest more often. The fear and rage flying through the air is exhausting. I am learning to turn my attention away from it and towards what feels good. Beauty is a powerful antidote as is the kindness and company of others. I don’t know what will happen in the coming year. I’m guessing the IS will become ever more isolated and unreliable on the world stage. I fear many more immigrants and other Hispanics will become ever deported and irrevocably harmed. I worry our economy will suffer under Trump’s policies. I think about censorship and how to fight it, how to stand up to it with courage. My prayer is that the citizens of the US will find ways to come together gently for the common good, that propaganda will lessen and we can see the humanity in each other again. I pray we will discover the common enemy is the enmity we have felt towards each other and that we actually all want the best - we just differ on what that we think that “best” is. I still believe most people are fundamentally kind. Sadly, the people in charge of the government right now don’t seem to be.

The fact that Donald Trump got re-elected. It has impacted me in a bad way, as I fear the repercussions of the bozos who are serving under him and the harm that has been done and will be done if he’s not stopped.

Trump was elected president and that has emboldened fascists and reactionary right wingers. The damage they are doing will be felt for a long time. As someone who is queer and has trans loved ones, our rights are in danger. The cruelty of ICE and deportations also deeply concerns and enrages me. Things are bleak but we have to keep fighting whatever way we can.

Where. To. Begin. I don’t think I can pinpoint one thing (which I know is a cop out) but I just feel hurt by the state of the world. There is so much hate and so little thought and logic and accountability for other perspectives. It just reminds me to keep those things with me. If the world doesn’t have enough of it, I’ll try to have an abundance and share it.

Oh that would be the murder of Charlie Kirk. I'm reeling from it. It is stones me that the far left is so insane that they would go so far as to murder someone. Not only that, but not to denounce it. To think it somehow okay. Jimmy Kimmel and his remarks were just stunning - - stunning in their inaccuracy, and their desire to misinform people, and their desire to instigate more hatred. I think that Jimmy Kimmel is a mean man. And I think he's unbalanced. Others probably will disagree. Anyway, the murder of Charlie Kirk - - simply because he was exercising his right under the Constitution of free speech - - speech that people categorized as hate speech but speech that those people haven't heard. They haven't listened to him or they would know that he was anything but hateful. In fact he had an enormous amount of compassion that I certainly don't claim to have. Nothing like he did. Do I agree with everything? Hell no. But I will defend his right and anyone else's right to peacefully say what they think. You can't change your gender. It's impossible. Plastic surgery doesn't do it. Those folks who go around talking about gender being a societal construct -- they're correct. A construct that was promulgated by a man named it John money who worked at Johns Hopkins and floated this nonsense back in the '50s. The man was a psychopath. He is responsible for at least two suicides. He brutally abused children. So, if that's your paradigm - - then yeah we have some serious problems. I do think that Charlie's death is bringing people back to the church. I do think that Charlie's death is getting people to the point where they're finally willing to be vocal and say enough. Enough of this nonsense. Enough of celebrating mental illness and not letting it be treated. Not requiring that to be treated. And not participating in the delusion. I will be interested to see a year from now how this plays out.

The election of Donald Trump has been an all-around disaster. Ecologically, legally, personally. I've been considering an essay that I call "Life in the time of Kol Nidre" where everything we thought was a rule apparently isn't. My anxiety is up, my fear for my family and neighbors is up, and I fear for my country as a whole.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk. I don't condone his death but not do I choose to condone his life and the hatred and division he spread - all at the behest of his billionaire backers. The immediate mythologising of him is nothing short of sickening. His widow choosing to use his memorial to sell merch seems to sum up the dire state of our politics.

Trump's election. I never would have thought we as a country would become enamored with a rapist, liar, narcissist, orange skinned pervert. His administration is doing very serious harm to the country and our systems. While I do believe we will survive, there is way too much suffering being caused by his policies and efforts.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk, and the ensuing calls to restrict gun access for trans people and label us terrorists. Trump's election and inauguration. The economic fallout from tariffs and the chaos these battles are causing, which has caused friends of mine to lose their homes and in some cases their lives.

Trump won. Again. I hate even writing his name. Living in DC, on the brink of losing home rule, feels too close. Education is at stake, jobs are at stake, freedom is at stake. The national guard and checkpoints threaten the safety of my neighbors. Funding for the programs that actually assist people in accessing food and housing is cut, redirected to military parades or hoax research studies falsely linking Tylenol to autism. The Smithsonians, one of my favorite local free activities, is at the risk of shuttering. It feels like a city I love has been snatched from under me.

There's been too many. ICE deploying in California has been a major event, but that doesn't feel like a singular one. The constant executive orders and misinformation and fear targeting me, my communities, and loved ones leave me feeling like no one event has ended / another is beginning. It's just constant unfurling of events that feel like being run over by a steam roller. This year has been devastating.

So many events have impacted me but mostly the eroding of our first amendment right such as Jimmy Kimmel being yanked off the air and Stephen Colbert being cancelled. In the case of Stephen, they are siting financial reasons but it seems like a convenient lie.

The response to Charlie Kirk has reaffirmed for me how lost our society has become. A society that couldn’t call for the end of a genocide is now losing their minds and hearts over a man who shouldn’t have lost his life but also didn’t believe in empathy and who’s role in society was to divide. The supremacy involved in both systems being upheld to deny the pain of Palestinians while simultaneously demanding empathy for a white supremacist is palpable.

Where do I even start? I feel like a year ago, I simply wanted the genocide to stop (I SAID I LOVED YOU AND I WANTED GENOCIDE TO STOP). As per June Jordan. Though that was, even in itself, a simpler time. We organized, and we demanded. I would begrudgingly vote for Kamala Harris even though she never had a definitive stance on Gaza and even now is walking back any support for trans rights. None of us expected this, even those who have been organizing for decades. The quick rollback of rights and programs, ranging from PEPFAR to girls' education, meant a ripple effect felt globally. When people ask me about the last year, I feel like the Broad City meme of Ilana going "How am I??" It's not easy to encapsulate the way that global events truly have had an impact on my day-to-day life. That has happened in the past, sure. I entered a career knowing that natural disaster, conflict, and political will would always steer the direction of my work, even if all I wanted to do was ensure the rights and dignity of people. My expectation was that similar to the 2016-2020 period, much of my work would have to be covert, under a different name, or slightly diverted in the way of "Amerikka First." However, this exceeded expectations in the sense that all funding was simply cut. Cut. Disappeared. The propaganda, misinformation, and rumor mill that fueled the downfall of USAID was rapid and mind boggling at times. Sure, I fantasized often about the downfall of the non-profit industrial complex, full of white saviors and misapplied solutions, but not like this. I would be the one to pick and choose when I could leave my career to start again, not decided by a cadre of boys who are unable to drink legally in the United States. The impact is still reverberating. I lost most of my work in January and February, and it is nearly October and I am still unsure how to proceed. People are still losing their jobs for speaking out against genocide in Gaza, trans rights in the United States, and still we must continue. It seems that every day now brings an "unprecedented event" that we must deal with. We persist.

We elected a fascist president. I hope he croaks soon

The rise of fascism in the US is terrifying. That there are many people that think it's not happening is shocking. On a daily basis, I have anxiety and concern about where things are heading. It impacts me because it feeds anxiety and creates tension in my body and that impacts everything I do. It's hard to know who around you is in support of this horror show. I want to talk about it with everyone but also am terrified of repercussions. Last time fascism arose in the world to this level it ended with 70 to 85 million people dead. This time...it could be MUCH worse.

Donald Trump being elected President. So much division between my family members and friends. I lost a friend of over 40 years over this.

It honestly feels like there are too many to mention! It's hard to keep up with everything.

I am getting more and more angry at the patriarch. It saps my endurance. I don't have patience for the bullying and deliberate intimidation.

Omg-so many. The violence, the shootings. Our president saying really stupid stuff. It’s a lot. I feel like America is really in the worst place. I was traveling in Peru and the week I was gone there were kids getting shot, a radical left getting assassinated, Kimmel taken off air. Just crazy. Other countries were asking me “is America okay? “ embarrassing.

An event that has impacted me has to be this new administration and all his puppets he has placed into power. As a veteran I fought and I believed in a country who doesn't believe in my or my people. Me being Mexican American. I just feel like our freedoms are being challenged by our own President and his cabinet. The abuse of power this president has /is putting us through is a very scary thing. This is something that has impacted the whole of America and world.

The growing creep of autocracy in the US has shocked and dismayed me, with each day and week bringing new threats and challenges to our democracy and way of life. I’ve been appalled by the institutions that are preemptively caving, and buoyed when they stand up against the threats. I’ve become more active in attending protests and staying informed about what is happening, even when it makes me very depressed.

The war between Israel and Palestine made me think a lot. Especially about how lucky I am to live here.

The starvation of the Palestinians forces me to agree that, yes, Israel is indeed committing genocide. Genocide. And in my life time, we Jews were the victims of genocide. Makes you despair of the human race.

The killing of conservative leader Charlie Kirk. It impacted me because made me realize there people who want to tear down our voices and make us silence. Also the attempts of assassination of President Trump because it made realize how strong of leader he is. He will not let them bring him down. President Trump is trying to make this country great again. Even though liberal wants to tear him down. He strong and we need that in leader. It impact me and whole country because we need a good leader.

The pro-Pali rallies have begun taking a toll on me. I’ve recently been called a “dirty zio”. And the PM’s acknowledgment of a Palistinian state without conditions has me in a tizzy.

The return of Trump and the blitzkrieg on democracy. How could it be anything else? Everything I thought I knew is in question.

Broadly, the Trump administration's policies and actions around immigration. They are so inhumane and so much in violation of legal procedure that I have felt I had to do everything in my power to oppose and mitigate them. There is much else to be said of the administration's destruction of our system of government and cultural climate, but I'll just focus in on the issue that has preoccupied me the most.

There's only one answer that comes to mind: the re-election of Donald Trump. I don't think our world will ever be the same after this. I know I can never look at my country in the same way, know that this is the world that the majority of my fellow Americans wanted. I had so much hope, during the Harris campaign, that my son would grow up in a better world than the world I grew up in. And now I fear he will grow up in a profoundly worse world. I never wanted to live in "interesting times," and I never wanted to raise a child in "interesting times." But here we are.

One word. TRUMP. Let's see: i work in Specia Education. I just retired and receive ssi. My two adult sons have disabilites and rece7ve ssi and Medicare. Theu have Autism. I havecl been specifically an advocate for Autism for 35 years.i have been a member of the Kennedy Center fir years. I live 20 minutes down the road from one of his golf courses. I live near Washington DC. I am a member of the Smithsonian. Need i say more. And yes, his election as president was a World event. Because his decisions and policy's have impacted people and countries throughout the world.

The inauguration of Donald Trump for a second term as President of the United States. He and the idiots he has placed in his cabinet and other key positions have systematically trampled the constitution, broken laws, ruined lives and turned our democracy into a dictatorship. Gone are the freedoms we once enjoyed, that were guaranteed by the constitution. Gone is the security of food and healthcare from the neediest among us. Gone are our open arms, welcoming immigrants from all over the world to come to the U.S, and create better lives for themselves and their families, while contributing to our society. All of this ruin of our country has made me sick to my stomach, given me heartaches, and put fear in my heart that, as a Jew, I will be among those who are marginalized, hated, and discriminated against. It feels like Nazi Germany all over again. I'm frightened for myself, my family, my friends. This is not the same country in which I was born. The division between people didn't exist when I was growing up or even in my early adult years. I try to allow for everyone to have an opinion; however, I will never understand how any intelligent person can believe the lies and misinformation coming from the highest offices. How can anyone with half a brain support what is going on here? I am broken hearted.

The election of Donald Trump—and the rise of ultra-nationalism, right wing leaders/ideology throughout the world. National and world news distresses and depresses me, so mostly I tune it out, change the subject in conversation. Turn my mind/heart, and efforts towards making a difference in our family and community. Exercise, play music, give and receive love, support the next generations as they give me hope for the future.

Reading my answer from 2024, I see that it was prior to the 2024 election. I was hopeful that Kamala Harris would be elected. She was not, and Donald Trump was elected for a second term. In the months since his election to the U.S. President we have seen a rise in authoritarianism in the country, the deporting of thousands of immigrants, the dimishing of democratic freedoms, a worsening economy, the continued disparity and weath gap increasing, and a period of anxiety, disillusion, and rise in political violence. It is objectively a different state of being to exist and be alive during this time. I feel scared, sad, angry, disbelief, and doubtful that I share values with people who are in positions of power. I want a world where people are treated with kindness, care, dignity, and compassion. I see the opposite of this in every day life. I believe in these values, but I don't see a world that reflects and supports these beliefs.

As I was finishing, it did it again wiped out all my writing on Day 4. I'm exasperated.

Each month of this year has brought new fears and frustration. Every word coming from certain people or certain media outlets appears to be a twisted version of reality. In reality, every aspect of our government has been affected negatively. Seems that every day is an 'event'. One ongoing 'event' is the actions taken by ICE in our immigrant communities. These folks are living in fear. Beginning in February, interest in my ESL class at the East Windsor Library began to fade. Eventually, registered students just stopped coming to class without notice. No responses to my text reminders. Eventually, just one student remained, Masumi, the wife of a buisnessman who was transferred to NJ from Japan. When time came to schedule fall classes, the local news was bleak. Raids in Princeton and East Windsor had taken away husbands and dads from longtime residents. I made the decision to stop teaching. I'm still not sure if it's the right thing to do.

ugh, what a shit show… Trump’s inauguration pretty much has doomed us all

Trump won... Here is what I said last year, "Well. October 7. The rise of oligarchies. The threat of one here. The severity of the weather. I fear that my head is just going deeper and deeper into the sand because I can't fix it. I can do small things - donations to causes, election work, kindness to my neighbors. It just feels too big and too ugly." And of course our President and his administration have been leading from a place of hatred. I'm not doing big things. Sending meaningful donations to ACLU and HIAS in particular and some to other organizations fighting the fight. I believe that creating art and working with Lynnette to tell the stories of interesting, powerful African American women throughout history is important. Making signs and standing up. I am keeping my eyes open for other opportunities to contribute to the ...?revolution.? I look forward to learning from other people on this platform...

The war in Gaza has caused me much pain and introspection. Holding two truths that do not always agree has been difficult (support for Israel's right to exist and defend itself versus the atrocities being committed in Gaza.

Donald Trump's election has sent me into despair over this country and the future of the world. Why? He has cut funding for science and health, he has undermined our Constitution and our democracy, he has harmed our relationships with the rest of the world, he denies the existence of climate change and thus has hurt efforts to stop it, he lies, he cheats, he foments anger and hatred. He is a despicable, disgusting excuse for a human being.

The world event that has affected me the most personally is Trump's federal workforce war- the firings and the hiring freeze. My education and experience are going to waste. No one else is hiring either. I'm out of money and dependent on my brother for my life. I absolutely hate it and so does he. Oct 7 still affects me, I pray for the release of the hostages and feel like I am wasting time on that too. No one can make God do anything. Another world movement that drains me is the "messianic Jewish" Christianity nonsense. They are multiplying everywhere like a roach infestation. They are so argumentative and aggressive - they are Christians not Jewish and they don't want to hear that. I hope they don't start killing us but I wouldn't doubt it. I just want to work in my masters degree field and buy a house and travel and be normal.

Although I am Lutheran Christian, the election of Pope Leo has impacted me deeply. In following in much the same footsteps as Pope Francis, his election gives me great hope in a caring and loving future. His election was a light in the dark times we live in.

Trump took office as President of the US on January 20. Every single day since, the news has been chaotic and terrifying. My fear of what is to come is existential. I'm afraid because I've been outspoken, and because I'm a Jew. I'm afraid for my children and my mixed race grandchildren. I'm not afraid of Trump himself, but his cronies and supporters want to remake the land I love, and dump the ideals of our foundation. And if they get a chance, they'll bulldoze anyone in their way. Many of Trump's advocates are ruthless and moralless

The election of Donald Trump has impacted me as a pediatrician. I can remember polio, epiglottis, whooping cough, tetanus: I remember the children we tried to save, who died. I remember the parents, and still wonder how they survived such trauma, and how they are doing. But, then, we had no alternatives. And now we want to make vaccines harder to get, and try to convince parents not to allow their children to get those vaccines. And I cry. I can not understand.

So many, topped by trump being re-elected. He's a disaster, lying every day. He is not good for my mental health. He bullies and threatens everyone around him. It's not good for me. I get so depressed. I'm trying to find joy, continuing my walks, seeing the children, going to theater, so many things to enjoy, but I'm sure I'll feel better when he's gone.

No need, & unbearable, to describe what's going on. I looked for an unfraught action I can take & ended up volunteering with a group that helps new immigrants with English language. I firmly believe every contribution is important, even a small one like that.

There are so many awful events that have taken place in the past year it is hard to pick just one. The murder of the two Israelis in DC was particularly heinous, as was the attack on the Pennsylvania governor's mansion during Passover. Jews seem to be the target in a disproportionate number of these incidents, and they are having a chilling effect on me for sure. The anti-Semitism in the world is just appalling.

The world's reaction to Oct.7 has shaken me to my core. The re-election of Donald Trump is the most horrific thing that has happened in this country. I no longer feel safe and I fear for the safety of my loved ones.

The flooding at a Christian girls camp in TX during the summer while my kids were at camp. Heart wrenching, and my worst possible fear in life- that is something horrible happening to my children. That children and so many little girls drowning, dying in that way. Those parents, I think of them now, and how they are managing every day to continue on. Also watching videos of Israeli hostages being returned to their families. Sobbing while watching those videos, of families being reunited often with emaciated family members.

I think that the on going wars in Ukraine and also Gaza are both heartbreaking and scary. The world is increasingly unstable with international laws being flouted. Also Trump is just fanning the flames at every opportunity leading to more chaos.

The ongoing genocide in Palestine/Gaza is the first thing to comes to mind. It's deepened my understanding of the call to me as a Jew to never be a perpetrator or a bystander. Reading Peter Beinart's book "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza" has been incredible for deepening my connection in this difficult time, as has the magazine Jewish Currents.

Rising antisemitism in world, in my city, in my neighborhood. That violence is en vogue. I don't know where this hunger for violence stemmed from, I don't remember it being in the culture growing up. People think it's virtuous to kill rather than hear someone out.

Many. The fires in Los Angeles, land of my birth. Subsequently, deployment of the military to L.A. by the corruptocracy. The inability of people to discern truth as a result of bias (media and otherwise) to such an extent that guys with willing or compliant troops (mercenary or otherwise), bombs and guns commit murder of innocent people daily AND NOBODY IS STOPPING THEM! AND there are some very good things happening, too. I see many people gathering to make the world better. We will find a way through. As Margaret Mead said, “ Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has.” When shall we prevail? That is the question of the hour, the minute, the second...

There was a snow storm around this time last year that and the weight of the snow snapped one of the bigger branches on my tree; the branch the held my giant wind chime. I had to hire someone to come and take the branch away. In order to not further harm the tree (coupled with the wind chime often feeling too loud) I gave the wind chime to my mom. I have grieved the loss of that branch and regretted not taking action to have the tree trimmed sooner. I also recognize what the wind chime represented in the first place: clearing the chaotic and violent energy from the environment. I’m reminded now, by the missing branch, of that painful time that came to pass, and how the material works represents the energetic world.

The election of Donald Trump. I view him has a danger to democracy.

gaza is unmistakably a genocide. the israeli government are unmistakably the perpetrators. antisemitism is unmistakably on the rise in part thanks to the israeli government publicly insisting they act and speak for all jews. political violence is all over the US across the spectrum of beliefs. the national guard has been deployed in multiple cities, covid vaccines are near impossible to get, and the US government is recruiting ICE officers with enormous salaries and student loan forgiveness. it's a living nightmare.

Trump being re-elected was a big bummer for me because, in my opinion he, doesn’t show respect or kindness and has caused much divisiveness.

The continued impact of the hostages and Trump's promises that he is going to get them out. Well he has not been able to and he is encouraging the Israeli government to continue to have a war with GAZA

AN event in the world? It feels like the world has been a deluge of horrors for the past few years, and that has only accelerated in 2025 with the election of DT. Every day there is some new devastating way that systems are enacting cruelty on people, and bringing out the cruelty within people. I have had to become much more mindful on how I intake news and social media — it overwhelms my nervous system and leaves me feeling stuck and despairing. I feel like boundarying my attention has been part of why this year has been yielding richer returns in my creative work.

Donald Trump's second presidency. Our country is in chaos, our world is in chaos. Within days of his inauguration, Trump and his supporters had begun changing much of what we know as our American democracy - to the extent that it is quickly becoming unrecognizable as our American democracy. I have experienced rage, fear, activation, motivation. I often freeze and do not know how to act. Sometimes I fall into despair. How can I affect this situation at all? It is tempting to ignore it, to focus on my life, which is one of privilege and comfort. But this IS my life, those affected now are my neighbors. We will all be affected soon. I am afraid that I will lose my health insurance and that my health care will be diminished greatly. I am afraid of how this may affect Owen's career, Grace and Val's safety. I have faith that God will make a way out of no way. I also need to listen to hear what is mine to do and to take action on that.

The continue rise and antisemitism since October 7 has been disconcerting. I was saddened when I went about groceries the other day because of the high price of groceries not necessarily for us, but for other people who struggle financially or rather seriously struggle financially, just recently Jimmy Kimmel‘s show was canceled because the President of the United States did not like the things he was saying. This was a deep concern to me because it violates the First Amendment rights of citizens of the United States. I don’t like living in fear. I am trying my best not to, but it’s hard because I feel like I am on guard. I’m trying to have faith that God knows what’s best.

US politics in general. The polarization is just getting scarier and scarier. The authoritarian leadership of Trump is terrifying to me. People are losing freedoms and rights in a country that I thought was all about freedom and rights.

The disaster in Israel. It feels like the end of Judaism as we know it and I do not know what the future holds for our children. I don't know where we will go or what we will do. I cant stand watching Israel anymore and even though I am half-Israeli, and my whole family is there, I hate Israel for ruining the lives of so many. I don't understand how this stops or ends, other than the annihilation of everyone.

Charlie Kirk's assassination. It reinforced for me: don't take any day for granted.

Unfortunately, my answer to this question is an ongoing thing for many years now. The war between Gaza and Israel, the conflict between Palestine and Israel, continues to occupy my thoughts from time to time. Gratefully as an American I don’t have to think about it every day like the people involved, but as a person with affinity to things, Jewish, since I’m not true, I’m caught in a moral quandary sometimes. The state of Israel needs to exist Jews around the world need to live without fear of a repeat of attempts to annihilate them from the world. However, the longer this war between Israel and Gaza extends and the conflict between Israel and Palestine continues, the harder it is to see a solution. The literal destruction of Gaza and the effect that it has had on noncombatants is more than devastating. I’ve studied the Israeli Palestinian conflict, and I see it from that point of view, i.e. a Jewish influenced point of view. Set a simple humanitarian point of view one can’t ignore the devastation of the people of Gaza. I really just don’t know what side to be on.

The UN meetings the week of Rosh Hashanah in 2025 were very impactful. Right now, I’m of the opinion the at this is very bad, harms Israel and does not address peace or a cease-fire. I want the war to end, but I do not know how it can right now and not lead to more war.

Conflict and suffering around the world continues to be difficult and painful, especially not knowing what I can do. I am also anxious about the environment, wildlife and climate change, trying to do small things to make the world a better place.

It feels like the whole world is on fire and going backwards. I don't have any country that I am a citizen of that I am proud to be connected or actually really feel safe. Be it the rise in antisemtic attacks. The rise in everyone hating on Israel. The Israeli government doing some pretty bad things and not caring about what the world thinks or how it is affecting Israelis in Israel or abroad. And how that effects those in Gaza (especially the innocent bystanders). The US basically creating what seem to be consentration camps and just taking people away. Also getting rid of vaccines and people being more afraid of them. And just so much more. It just feels like there is always something happening and it just keeps getting worse. It as if since January 2020, everything is just building up and having mini explosions but what if there is a big one? What will the world be like? How will I stay safe? I will I keep my kids safe? I just don't know anything, and feel like a lot of the time I just have to not pay attention or pretend it is not happening to be able to go about the day to day.

The genocide in Palestine. So many of us have been pushing as hard as we can for a ceasefire-- Jewish and goyim, American and Palestinian and Israeli and international... And still babies are starving and being bombed. What does it mean that so many Jews are complicit in this atrocity? What does it mean that so many have stood idly by their neighbors' blood? To save one life is to save an entire world, and we are losing an entire galaxy.

The continued war in Israel, the hostages, the election of trump and all that came with it, the rise in antisemitism everywhere. All shitty, but all grounded me into knowing who I am, what I stand for, how i show up and where and when. They all conflate into insanity each and every day.

Oh so many things – I don’t think there was one thing that occurred this year, but the creeping Christian nationalism, the rise in antisemitism, and the absolute lies in distortions coming from the White House and other government departments has depressed me beyond belief and made me frightened for my children and grandchildren. It has, however, made me determined more than ever to do whatever I can to stem that tide of lies and bitterness.

Trump got re-elected and the county was SAVED from what would have been total disaster - restored my faith in the American voter... for about two days, until the usual BS from the crazy REAL crazy democratics - can't say anything in the world had any real impact on me personally - repeat last year's answer!

The orange election. It's the decimation of society and perhaps the world. Alt right is rising everywhere and this country is being destroyed. So are we all.

Charlie Kirk. While I didn't believe in everything he said, the fact that people could say (even my brother) it's good he's dead is beyond me. He was Jakes age. This world is messed up. And how the world can turn on Israel, even Jews after October 7th is beyond me too. This is a scary world and I fear for the Jews. Europe is so bad too with all the muslims.

The genocide of Palestinians in Gaza has, somewhat ironically, helped to bring me closer to my faith and to solidify my personal beliefs, values, and those that I would like to instill in my future children. I have watched my cousins spew hate against a different cousin and her Palestinian husband. The example they set for their toddler is despicable and I pray Jayden grows up to see their thinly veiled racism for what it is.

The election of Donald Trump has turned this country into a fascist dictatorship. He is destroying everything good and every day does something new and horrible.

OMG. Which one to pick? Israel is starving and thirsting Gaza - our friend is committing genocide. It bothers me greatly because there is absolutely nothing any regular person (eg me) can do about it. Israel is now clearning out Gaza City and attempting to force all Gazans onto a small area on the southern beach. Autocrats are taking over the world

Sadly, the amount of HATE! ACTUAL HATE. We're SUPPOSED to be the smarter species but we clearly have a lot to learn about grace 😞 I have to, daily, not get beaten down by the sheer amount of lies, cruelty, etc. from every angle. I am embarrassed to call myself human 😞

So many horrible things happening. The Rise of the extreme right wing, the religious fundamentalism, the lack of empathy of many persons and politicians. But there is some justice somewhere: Bolsonaro is condemned by a Federal Court, the brasilien people in the streets condemning the senate. I hope that the war ends in Gaza and the flotilla gets some credit for it.

Fuck. Where to begin. The siege on Gaza City and the ongoing genocide in Palestine. I often squeeze my babies so tightly thinking of the families there who have lost so much and are suffering so much: it’s incomprehensible.

The famine in Gaza has become clear. It has also become clear that I need to engage more with action. And I want to do that while remaining on purpose. Coming to Israel will allow me to do more action, as is working with Women in White (womeninwhite.net). I have a desire to stay within a limited area of purpose: enabling people to do actions that directly improve others’ lives, teaching, and/or truth and reconciliation efforts. I believe that if I can stay focussed one of them will emerge as something I can do intensively.

There have been a couple. The election of Trump for president, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and the rise in anti-semitism. Trump being back in office has made an impact on our country, where people are being held accountable, and I'm praying our country will be better for it, I think it's too soon to tell. The assassination of Charlie Kirt made it very clear in our country that you can be killed for having a different opinion. We can no longer have discussions without someone being so offended that we could die because of our views. I have lost friends because of that. Anti-Semitism has always been a concern for me long before I found out that I am Jewish, adn now that I've decided to convert, I'm very much aware how bad it is in our country and world.

When we attacked Iran, and then they attacked us back. It was scary, even believing knowing Hashem is going to protect us. It was terrifying, and being alone, going each time to the bomb shelter alone, coming home to an empty apartment, no one there to hug me and support me. It was a big wake up call of thats it I need to do everything in my power to find my soulmate even if that means leaving Israel. It was an uh-huh moment. Then we just had to get back to life like nothing had happened. Like we hadn't seen the craziest miracles.

Oof, this is hard. We are, without a doubt, in the middle of the worst possible president our country could have ever voted for. Every day, there are dozens of wild headlines, inhumane policy updates, hypocritical and childish behaviors… all from someone supposed to be a leader. It’s been incredibly difficult to see us take giant steps away from the progress we’ve made over generations. The damage he’s causing will impact Americans for generations to come, and that’s if we manage to avoid a true dictatorship. We are losing rights, have seen an attack on free speech, zero accountability for lawlessness - and it’s only been 6 months. I’m honestly not sure our country will make it and definitely not sure that I will.

The Palestine-Israel war has turned my entire world upside down. It's changed friendships, the way I view the world, my religion, my community and the way we circulate news. The empathy of people, and the way people will sacrifice that empathy to hold onto a false narrative they've been told that they feel keeps their identity in place or keeps them in the 'right'. I feel conversations with friends have opened my eyes to the reality of the situation and I feel ashamed that as a previously persecuted people, a people who have experienced genocide, we could inflict that on others in order to protect land that wasn't ours to begin with.

The world is polarized and feels hateful- I have withdrawn. I have been in hermit mode, just creating my art. And giving it away, doing my best to build love.

Antisemitic growth - Global antisemitism surged 340% in two years

The spread of totalitarianism in the USA, and the fear of my MAGA neighbors

SOOOO MANY!!! Trump’s election, for sure, has overshadowed everything. I was sooo excited about finally having a female president, as well as a POC president. Instead, he was reelected, bringing with him even more of the hate-filled rhetoric from his first term. And he’s been moving at a rapid-fire pace to turn back time and erase all of the progress this country had made in terms of civil rights, nevermind his undermining of constitutional freedoms. Apparently the first amendment means nothing anymore. And ICE’s directives under him are absolutely frightening.

In addition to the war in Gaza, the plight of the hostages and the politics in Israel, the direction in which the US is heading is causing a lot of stress. The hostility towards so many groups of people is horrific. But the US is taking actions that will undermine food security and national security. There is no aspect of food production and distribution not dependent on people in the US without work visas. And the Department of War is taking actions that are making it uncomfortable for many women and minorities to stay on active duty. What doesn’t rest on food and a secure nation, especially one that is likely to be at war with another superpower in a few years?

The entirety of the Trump administration. It’s a little jarring knowing that I am a US born citizen and I could be deported for saying something

The election of Trump has been a fresh hell each day. There are too many freaky events to speak of. They are throwing immigrants in torture prisons. They are deporting people to countries other than their home country. Meanwhile the Secretary of HHS does not believe in the germ theory. Work is just peppered with threatening emails from the feds. They are so bizarre and aggressive everyone initially thought they were spam. The project officers don't even know where they are coming from. I feel like I woke up and discovered I am a parasitic worm in someone's colon who lives on hotdogs. It is so disorienting.

The obvious answer is Trump's election and all the negative consequences that have followed. It has shaken my faith in humanity and our prospects for longer-term survival. For example, now we face the challenge of insufficiently regulated AI, and we are running out of time to solve it, but our world leaders are failing adequately to address it and instead have to deal with Trump and MAGA nonsense, and in the U.S., destruction of basic institutions, and weakening of self-correcting mechanisms (like courts, legislatures, and independent government institutions) that we relied on to protect us.

The assassination if Charlie Kirk. It was so unfair for him to have gotten killed for debating and sharing his opinions. It was even worse to hear the some responding to it with delight. It made me lose respect for many people and faith in humanity. It proves how twisted people have become due to politics.

Trump's election and inauguration and the absolute chaos since, especially for federal employees. It's been humiliating. Anxiety-inducing. We are deeply in the realm of doing less with less. I have felt like a failure to my family as we fall farther and farther behind the cost of living and I don't see meaningful COLA increases for federal employees any time soon. I would not recommend public service to anyone who is not independently wealthy.

The war in Gaza. It has fundamentally disturbed my whole being. Robbed me of sleep. Altered my perspectives and challenged my relationships

I wish I didn't have to write this, but the ongoing genocide in Gaza, now going into its second year. It's been heartbreaking, exhausting, frustrating. It has impacted me in many ways, including in very personal ones - with family members complicit in this genocide and ethnic cleansing, facing personal repercussions for my positions and activism. I wouldn't do it any other way - I will always believe that "Never Again" should apply to everyone, and that won't change, but it's a lot to hold.