Q04

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

Trump. Israel/Palestine. ICE. The war in Iran. It's all so heavy and scary.

Again with Trump. He decided it would be a good idea to go to war with Iran. He thought it would be over in a matter of weeks. He thought he could do better at restraining their nuclear capabilities than Obama did. He thought our military could easily crush the Iranian military quickly. And of course he was wrong on all front. He has committed war crimes with impunity, bombing a school and murdering almost 120 children and 35 adults, and targeting civilian infrastructure repeatedly. It's created instability in the middle east, as Iran attacks nearby countries that work with the US. He's emboldened Netanyahu to continue and expand his own attacks on Palestinians and neighboring states. He breaks laws and institutional norms daily, and has enriched himself, his family and his buddies on the backs of Americans. It's all disgusting to me, and devastating to my country. So much of what I witnessed my country achieve over my lifetime has been attacked and destroyed by him and his people.

More people are starting to wake the fuck up about politics, including more Leftists who are on to the problems with the Left (also with liberals, but the Left was on to them long ago).

The major world event that continues to affect me is the Trump presidency, although the way it has affected me this year is mostly through the boundaries I’ve built around it. I have a pattern during political administrations that I strongly disagree with. Part of me feels an obligation to stay extremely informed. I read constantly, listen to podcasts, follow every new controversy, and end up carrying a lot of anger around with me. I remember this during the Bush years and again during Trump’s first presidency. Over the last two years, I’ve tried something different. I still open the news apps on my phone about once a day and skim the headlines so I have some understanding of what is happening in the world. But I’ve stopped listening to most current-events podcasts and generally stopped consuming the endless stream of political analysis and outrage. This has become a real boundary for me. There is an impulse in me that says being a responsible citizen means staying informed about every development. But there is another part of me that recognizes that constantly consuming political news does very little to change what is happening while having a very real effect on my mental state. I don’t want the chaos of American or global politics to dictate the emotional quality of my days. I especially don’t want outrage about events largely outside of my control to take attention away from Michael, Esti, our family, my friendships, being outside, or all the other parts of my life that actually require my presence. There is probably some privilege embedded in being able to disengage this way. But at this point in my life, I don’t think staying angry and extremely well-informed is inherently more virtuous than protecting my attention. I can remain aware of what is happening without inviting every political development into my nervous system. Maybe the impact of this administration on me has therefore been slightly paradoxical: the more chaotic the political world feels, the more committed I’ve become to not allowing it to determine whether or not I experience joy in my own life.

A president who is literally crazy. Attack Iran. Really? Break apart any peace deals? Create a disharmony with Canada? CANADA?!?! Brazenly, and publicly try to steal the midterm elections and continue past lies that the Biden election was stolen. But not Trumps!?! Selling off parts of National monuments. They aren't even ours to sell. Education, women's health rights, climate. On and on and on. My heart is broken. I feel determined and helpless and overwhelmed.

Gen AI has absolutely destroyed my industry and the career that I loved. I used to love my work and now I'm seriously considering leaving, which is a shame because I am brilliant, motivated, and passionate at what I do.

In the midst of chaos & shit at the federal level, the Artemis II mission sent 4 astronauts on a loop around the far side of the moon. I didn’t realize it was happening until the day of the loop, but then was so invested in the rest of the mission. It was joy, real joy for me and so many others. It’s Cristina Koch’s curls with earth in the background. I stopped The Council’s wine tasting tour to watch them reenter Earths atmosphere and land, and cried tears of joy and relief when they opened the hatch and everyone was okay. It was such a a reminder to me of the joy and wonder of humanity and discovery. And it’s been one of those things that anchors me through the unrelenting bullshit of this time.

The loss of global health aid support has been devastating for the work that I do. But I am glad for the Accra Reset: the plan to center partnerships around countries' own needs rather than donors'. I hope to embody that approach in my own work in Ghana and beyond.

AI has exploded. I bet a lot of people's answers are about that. I can't say it's impacted me YET, but I know it will. Probably faster and in a bigger way than any of us expect.

It is always the horrible stuff that Trump is doing as he tries to defeat Democracy. I grew up learning the legacy of our country and the principles of Democracy which he is eviscerating.

tim curry died. every light in the world flickered, just for a moment, when he went.

All of the terrible geopolitical happenings caused by the current administration's leadership is perpetually disheartening. The future is perilous, concerning, and hard to accept. Honestly, I am glad to have lived as long as I have, knowing that there's more time behind me than in front of me, as negative sounding as that may be. It will take decades to repair the damage, which saddens me throughly. And makes me angry that the presumed checks and balances have not been working to rein in the negative changes.

The election of Zohran Mamdani to mayor of New York by the efforts of the hardworking grassroots organizers of the DSA, is one of the only things giving me hope for a better world – alongside witnessing the steadfast solidarity of community members resisting fascism in Minneapolis and in Masafer Yatta.

Trump existing, Trump being elected, and the EV tax credit going away end of Sept.

Watching reading hearing training learning about ICE gestapo blazing into homes neighborhoods places of business and shooting arresting beating intimidating humans all without recourse and in fact with nothing but encouragement from the fascist government in power. It’s horrifying. It’s spreading and no one is safe. How can we pretend otherwise. Right now it’s brown skin undocumented people they’re locking up here, in different states, in different countries, in places unknown removed from lawyers families rules or laws. No recourse. Only encouragement. The list of who is undesirable and will be locked up thrown out can expand at any moment and no one cares what rights or protections any American or resident or human has on our soil. Nothing. No one gives a shit. All documented on video and court cases to last a hundred years.

Trump’s meddling with the Kennedy Center made me realize how he can even poison our sacred cultural institutions. I hope this radicalizes me to get back to my political activism.

I moved to Minneapolis in December 2025 and now live about three blocks from where Renee Good was murdered. I didn't know anybody in the neighborhood yet but the sense of community, camaraderie, and shared ownership over caring for our neighbors was instantaneous. It was truly awful to have ICE terrorizing our neighbors and they kidnapped a person who lived upstairs. It's a weird thing to know that you're living through something that will become history when you're just trying to make it through and help people feel a little safer. It took all of us and I'm so grateful to be living here while also so sad and angry about how my neighbors were treated. I'm proud to be hailing from South Minneapolis now.

It feels like the entire world had changed because we no longer feel like the USA is the country we live in. When we can just fly into another country and kidnap their president with impunity, threaten the lives of everyone in Cuba for no reason at all, start a war for now reason, with no way out...and no one can stop it...it feels like nothing is safe.

We have a fucking mafia boss in the white house who is systematically disassembling our democracy! He has started a war against Iran and caused the Strait of Hormoz to be closed. Diesel prices have increased to $6. Environmental regulations are under attack and armed thugs are roaming our streets arresting and killing people. Meanwhile the Repugnicans do nothing. The war in Iran is a huge threat to our economy, the war in Ukraine where the US does not support Ukraine enough to stop the war is a disaster for Europe and NATO. These all have not impacted me personally but it will have terrible consequences for the future of the US and our kids.

The re is no singular event, just the ongoing destruction of US democracy in so many big ways. It is hard to stay hopeful or to avoid all the feelings I had last year. Hope is critical to continuing the fight though, so I keep picking it up where I find it. I keep looking. It is there.

The Israeli genocide in Gaza. It has made me feel very sad that a state meant to be a safe haven for the Jewish people fails to follow Jewish law on the treatment of fellow Bene Yisraelim and others.

The continued, and escalating, anti-semitism. While Mike Sedlack threw pennies at me in 8th grade and called me a penny pinching Jew I have not directly experienced additional anti-semitism. BH. It is concerning at how commonplace it has become. I am worried that it is moving closer and closer to my sheltered life. I need to make a plan of how to prepare and deal with anti-semitism when, not if, it comes.

The state of our nation is a nightmare, and we are pinning all our hopes on the midterms, despite the administration having done all it can to rig all the elections. Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two white Americans, were killed by ICE, which inflamed anti-ICE sentiment more than all the brown people who have been kidnapped and killed by ICE. Many women died because they couldn't get abortion care or were arrested for miscarrying. Trump is blatantly corrupt, made billions of dollars since taking office, and is destroying the free press. We went to war with Iraq for no good reason and are stuck there now. The genocide continues in Gaza despite Trump declaring a cease fire there. I am barely impacted by all of this physically, though it's emotionally exhausting to live in the terrible world he is creating.

Trump’s ongoing destruction of the U.S. - just depressing. Still no clear answer on what to do about it.

El terremoto de Venezuela. El día que sucedió, Gabriela y yo nos confundimos pensando que era el día del concierto de Rawayana. Resulta que era al día siguiente. Pero se sintio tan crazy que mientras nosotras nos arreglabamos, maquillabamos y estabamos riendo de que nos equivocamos de día. Habían personas viviendo esta experiencia tan surreal en otro país. Fue fuerte todo lo que vivieron, fue fuerte sentir impotencia por lo sucedido y tener amigos sufriendo por lo que pasaba en su país. Fue fuerte y triste. Y nunca me voy a olvidar lo que sentí, el sentir felicidad cuando otro vive angustía.

The escalating conflict in Iran and Gaza has really troubled me along with the devastating impact of the Trump administration on immigrants and other communities in this country. At the same time Mamdani and Katie Wilson's elections show that there are people trying to make this world a better place electorally. Also AI is terrifying and impressive at the same time; I have no idea what this will lead to next.

The ramp up of ICE detentions. After an asylum interview, my clients and I were approached by officers telling us that we were going to a second interview. We followed them down the hallway when a swarm of ICE officers came around the corner. Someone pulled me back and another person put their arms in front of me to keep me from proceeding forward, while I watched both of my clients get detained. I felt so helpless. I was momentarily speechless with shock. Eventually I found my voice and asked why my clients were being detained, and if they had a warrant. Since we were in a federal building, there wasn't much I could do. It was a horrible experience. I felt so helpless. But I was ultimately able to get them out on bond, which were some of my most impactful wins this year.

I found out today that Sunkist Fruit Gems are getting discontinued. While I never liked the candies, they represent a big chunk of my childhood and I am sad that kids in the future won't get to throw them at their friends at b'nei mitzvahs or experience the same nostalgia that I do.

The stupid war between Russia and Ukraine and the fact that Europe and USA keep sending money to weaponize Ukraine and to continue this senseless war!!! Enough is enough!! Stop the war with Russia. You must understand that Russia has a full right to protect its borders and if Ukraine is threatening to join EU and NATO, Russia has the right to protect its borders

It's been a hard year politically. I've been saddened by the ICE shootings and deportations. One of my former students' father was taken up by ICE. It's extremely frustrating to see the United States continue to turn to facism. I'm also saddened by changes in education. Teachers having to teach more classes and more students because of budget cuts. Having to post the Ten Commandments in their classrooms. Under threat of takeover from the state. Losing freedom over curriculum. Spending more time testing. It's also strange that for the most part, I'm insulated from the world events including the war with Iran and from the terrible things our president is doing. I think world and local events would have a greater impact on me if I were still teaching and working with students.

I appreciated being part of Stitch Their Names Together, a project recording the names of all of those killed in Gaza. It was incredibly moving, working with a small group of women and stitching the names of men, women, and children; sometimes entire families. As we sewed, we said blessings and prayers over them.

It seems there have been so many tragedies in the world over the last year that it’s hard for me to think of just one thing. The flooding in Nepal was horrendous. Everything that Donald Trump has been doing to our country stabs me each and every time. The wildfires in California, which seem to get worse every year. The rise in antisemitism, which has actually skyrocketed over the last two years hurts me to my core.

There have been so many catastrophic events this year. Specifically related to climate change and also the continuation of the genocide in Palestine, the USA starting a war in Iran, trying to fight everyone and generally fucking shit up. The ability to see climate catastrophies happening in real time, or moments after they happen- a glacier breaking off and causing a tsunami-like wave of water to destroy a Tibetan town in the blink of an eye on camera. There on second-you see people in the street clock that something is happening - but in the moment they begin to react the water is nearly upon them- then they are gone. Is terrifying and heartbreaking all at once. These disasters are predominantly affecting poorer countries that have in no way contributed to climate change in the way those in power with greater resources to affect change have. Climate change is a series of disasters that you view through your phone until you are the one filming.

I mean, where to begin? It’s been quite an eventful year, and maybe I’m a little numb and desensitized at this point — I’m joking. I’m really not. Obviously, the war with Iran in March, which lasted about a month and a half, had a huge impact on me. It was wild and scary, but at the same time, you eventually find a sense of normalcy. After a couple of weeks, you know what you need to do. You meet up with friends, but you make sure you’re somewhere safe. You go to your classes, and if there’s an alert, you go to the shelter. You make adjustments and you keep living. I definitely didn’t love it, but I also realized that you can’t live in fear. You have to keep going and find some kind of normal life within whatever circumstances you’re given. During that period, my significant other basically moved in with me for the month, which wasn’t something I had planned or necessarily wanted to happen so quickly. But ultimately, I’m grateful that it did. We got to know each other in a very different way, and going through something stressful together brought us closer. Another event that unexpectedly affected me was Dolly Parton passing away. I didn’t realize how much I admired her until she was gone. I think what really stayed with me wasn’t just her music, but the way she seemed to approach life — being kind, having good values, being able to laugh at yourself, and being a light for other people. She had this ability to be completely herself and still make people feel good. Since she died, I’ve been listening to so much of her music, especially her version of “I Will Always Love You,” which she wrote herself. I obviously grew up knowing Whitney Houston’s version, and that’s an incredible ballad, but Dolly’s version feels different to me. It feels like she’s actually speaking to me. There’s something so personal and vulnerable about it, like she’s sitting there and singing it directly to you. I get a little nostalgic listening to her music now. It’s warm and comforting, but also a little sad. And I think that’s actually part of what I’ve taken from this year — being able to feel all of those things. The happy, the sad, the nostalgic, the excited, the scared, even the sassy. I don’t want to be numb to life. I want to be able to feel things, even when they’re difficult. So I guess those are two of the biggest things that impacted me this year: learning how to keep living through uncertainty, and being reminded that there’s value in staying open enough to actually feel everything that comes with being alive.

The 25th anniversary of 9/11 hit me surprisingly hard this year. While I didn't personally lose any family or friends that day, thank G-d, I do remember the day and my experience of it clearly. I was just a few days into my freshman year of high school, in 3rd period Biology, and a few minutes before 9AM the principal came on the loudspeaker and announced: "There has been an explosion at the World Trade Center". And I remember thinking, oh wow, interesting, but figured it was just a "little" explosion (???), though I wondered what made him make an announcement about it, a bit out of the norm. Once I heard about the second plane hitting the second tower, I started to realize that what was happening was something bigger -- and started thinking about what it meant. With the commute into Penn Station from our local train station taking a little over an hour, we had many, many students in our district with parents, family, and friends who worked in Manhattan -- myself included. I remember going down to the guidance office to try to call my mom and check in on my two uncles who worked in the Financial District and my great-grandmother who lived on the Lower East Side, and how jammed all the phone lines were. But I did finally get through and learned that everyone was safe -- my grandmother's apartment was far away enough from the Twin Towers for her to have not been affected, and my uncle walked there and stayed with her. My other uncle, who worked just a few blocks from the World Trade Center, walked over the Brooklyn Bridge to get home, but was safe as well. It was a hellish day of uncertainty and anxiety, as we all waited to hear -- I remember hearing someone in the hallway say, "my dad works there" -- and getting home and watching footage of the devastation on TV, on the news, all day. I remember the air quality, even that far out (45ish miles as the crow flies from WTC) being so thick and awful for days afterwards. But after that, I remember being surprisingly numbed to it -- I didn't lose anyone, I wasn't there, what did I have to grieve? Sure, I was sad, of course, at each of the anniversaries, properly aggrieved, if not grieving. I visited the site at one point, though I didn't go into the museum. But I think this year, with such a big milestone anniversary and watching the footage from California, it hit me differently. I think I always took it for granted that everyone around me was affected by it in...not a similar way exactly, but parallel; an unspoken innate commonality existing due purely to proximity, geographical happenstance, where we all happened to exist on earth on that day at that time. There were just certain things about being that physically close to it -- and especially growing up there, and not only growing up there but having family roots in and around New York City for so long, especially in downtown Manhattan as a 4th-generation Jewish New Yorker -- that I didn't realize wasn't shared with *everyone* until I was surrounded by people with whom it wasn't. It wasn't this national tragedy that happened in another state, across the country -- it happened over *there*, close enough that on the wrong day I and practically everyone I knew at that point in my life could easily have been there myself/ourselves, which is just simply not something ingrained in the fabric of the experience for those who lived here at that time, and certainly not those who grew up and lived their whole lives here the way I did in New York. And now I exist in some sort of hybrid state, where I guess I'm not in some ways a New Yorker anymore, but I'll never be -- in many of those same ways -- an Angeleno. Watching that footage, it twisted my stomach -- I felt so strongly, *my people*. I couldn't stop watching minute-by-minute media compilations of the day's live coverage, the footage of the planes hitting the towers, the towers crumbling, reading and listening to the final phone calls of those trapped in the burning buildings and hijacked planes...and realizing that I was now older than many of them were when this happened, which is...sick. Bizarre. For sure, one of the defining events of our time. I wonder what we'll learn about how it's come to shape us in another 25 years from now.

ICE kidnappings and violence and cruelty have devastated and electrified me, and been a catalyst for leaning in hard to community and bringing people together and showing up in all the ways we can for justice and for love.

the antisemitism that has arisen so openly and the destruction caused by the Trump administration. The impact is daily worry and fear-are we safe? Is Israel safe? Is democracy safe? I am impacted because I am a Jew and an American and both of these are threatened.

Gahhhhhhh! Too! Many! Events! Let's just leave it at the State now willing to weaponize our resources against everyone, including us. Is this significant because it's a recent development for me, who has been protected from the long-standing weaponization against people of color and the poor, that is to say: everyone else? Sure. And. I continue to sharpen my awareness, skills, and commitment to block, build, interrogate, and seek common cause.

It's not a discrete event, but this year felt very much like AI hit the mainstream and infused in everything. My lectures were spent talking about AI, my frustrations were around AI, and, while I'm trying to resist it, it's clearly difficult a challenge to ignore (or not make anything of it) when so many folks around me cannot adapt in critical fashion.

Minneapolis - the ICE deportations and armed ICE Agents rounding people up in the streets, shooting and killing protestors. It's absolutely appalling and a reminder that this country has always had violent episodes that defy what is right and just to maintain white supremacy.

AI has once again risen to the surface as the most existential threat to humanity, now completely ubiquitous in the zeitgeist and unavoidable in just about every political conversation. Alarming is an understatement. We're seeing now in real time the failures of its promises - jobs being lost, products and services enshittified, ecosystems destroyed, truth distorted, and lives lost. Only now, 3 years after its rise in popularity, are we hearing the AI companies speak up about the necessity of safeguards. But it inspires little hope. It's far too late to put the genie back in the bottle, and as long as these companies keep their profit motive and the nebulous mandate to "beat China", there's little incentive to actually halt the advancement of AI's development. Meaning we're all basically fucked. If there's a silver lining (and it's not much), it's that the rise of AI has prompted a cultural backlash that is beginning to place heightened value on that which is distinctly human - handcrafted, tactile, original, unpredictable, natural. The trend can be found in design, media, and spaces that people are creating. This resistance will create refuge for humanity, but it won't save it. The effect that this has had on me personally is that it's made me double down on these human refuges and on my insistence not to use AI (as much as I can help it). It's made me go deeper into co-ops, and as I focus on my brand, I intend to uplift human-centered design and activities. I don't know that there's much I feel capable of doing beyond that, but it's my hope that my boycotting and doubling down can create some sort of ripple effect, and that enough pressure can be mounted from that to meaningfully curb the demand for this bullshit. I remain quite pessimistic.

Antisemitism seems to be becoming more and more mainstream here in the US. Politicians are allowed to be blatantly antisemitic (as long as they say out loud that they're not), and it actually helps them gain votes, not lose them. Lots of Jews have forgotten the lessons of history and have prioritized other identities over their Jewish identities. It makes me scared.

ICE occupied my city for almost 6 months. The whole city is still recovering. I can't imagine what families who were hiding from our government went through. I'm still so angry and tired.

I hate Donald Trump. I hate this administration. I hate that I'm working two jobs and can't even afford to live.

The heat, obviously - bad. Andy Burnham becoming Labour leader - good. Horrible, hateful division in my local area due to a proposed asylum centre - very bad. Good progress being made on climate mitigation and adaptation in certain countries - good. A mixed bag of world events, although somewhat localised.

The fallout from the election has meant that I still feel scared to navigate the world as I am.

The war in Iran highlights the fear and uncertainty of so many in the world today. It is a sad thing to see so many governments and their peoples at war, suffering through economic hardship and a general fear of the future. These macro concerns filter down to all of us, into our hopes, dreams and relationships. I pray for wisdom and sagacity for all world leaders, and above all peace and prosperity for the whole human race.

Trump. Don't get me started. And the continued conflict in Israel/Palestine and increasing settler violence has made be angry and cynical. I feel this is instigating so much hatred against Israel, and frankly, rightly so. This has turned me upside down. How can we Jews pray for peace constantly and, as a people, not be peacemakers? It's such hypocrisy. And it's not just the Israeli government that seems to close a blind eye to the violence-- many Jewish Israelis do to.

Constant war and anything Trump has done. The national parks, especially. That was heartbreaking and infuriating. Angry at this country. Feeling surreal.

unsure

AI I suppose, although Trump continues to be a huge chaotic element in the world- destroying norms and breaking down the collaborative world order. Easy to see AI enabling deep fake videos, social media warfare, novel bioweapons, social isolation… social media is waning a bit, with Facebook settling a large class action. I could see this disrupting life way more. I use AI daily, for questions I used to go to Google for, but the anxiety it brings is next level. Will there be no more secrets after everyone is hacked? Will I lose my savings?

The increased fuel prices caused by the war with Iran pushed me toward another electric car. I had considered a hybrid but decided that I really did not want to mess with gas stations and exhaust. Other than that, immigration laws and visa changes caused some worry about future possibilities for me to become a permanent resident of my husband's country and for my son and his girlfriend (who is also from another country) to find a way to be together.

The rapid move towards digitalization of everything and soon to be AI of everything. Most specifically I've been involved in helping my son get set up at college where there are probably seven or eight portals he has to manage, no papers, and it's all been totally confusing and overwhelming for both of us. I also watched my step father with dementia unable to get on to his Kaiser portal because he put in the password wrong. It was in fact a portal password problem that caused my son to lose his place at the school he wanted to go to. I'm sad that quality has been traded for something we thought would be more convenient, but in fact is more confusing and difficult, and in addition, alienating. Enshittification. I mourn for my children. What have we done?

iran “war.” excursion?! wtaf. gas prices. food prices. polar ice caps. this whole regime. immigrants being killed, here in the US. anti-trans legislation. a lot of people don’t feel safe anymore here and it’s not ok. it makes my patients more anxious and less resourced. healthcare is really hurting. it all makes me feel sick and anxious. and it’s all connected. but maybe it is also a space for transformation and repair. maybe maybe maybe. my BFF’s husband has always been unkind and unwell but the manosphere has turned him into a truly abusive person. so they are splitting. maybe somehow this is a birth. maybe please god may this be a difficult birth of a better time and not a horrible death of all we’ve ever worked for and known.

Gas prices continue to be high, hovering now in CA at nearly $6/gallon. Prices remain high for groceries and eating out. The President's war on Iran and strait of H closure is supposedly driving oil prices up. Both my sons and all my nieces and nephews struggle with everyday purchases and bills.

I think the financial piece adds an important dimension—it’s not just abstract worry about the world, it’s affecting your everyday life. The world feels like a dumpster fire right now, and I’m really worried about the world my kids are going to inherit. The war in the Middle East has probably been the biggest thing weighing on me. Of course I worry about family there, but I also worry about what it means for us here. The rise in antisemitism has been honestly scary, and it’s changed how safe I feel moving through the world as a Jew. And then there’s the financial impact. Prices seem to have skyrocketed, and this is the first time as an adult that I haven’t really felt financially comfortable. I find myself worrying about how we’re going to pay for everything, on top of worrying about everything else. It’s a lot.

The war in Iran. I was a supporter of it at first - Iran and its proxies have caused no end of problems for Israel over the last 30 years. But as it became clear the strategy behind it was highly flawed, and it was not accomplishing its goals while it strengthened Iran by showing how easy it is for them to shut the Strait of Hormuz, my views have changed. Now I think it's a disaster, and it is upsetting on top of all the other problems in the world, including antisemitism, climate change, the danger of AI going out of control, etc.

The US starting a war in Iran-- this has made me more aware of how oil, particularly, powers so much of our lives, from the car I drive to the trucks that deliver goods to the tractors that plow fields. I've been trying to drive my car less and maximize the time I spend using the stove or oven; I've been making sure I charge the car every night, and looking into getting an induction stove. I'm also worrying more about it!

Nepal floods/climate change. It seems irreversible at this point that the world will be destroyed.

20 years on from 9/11. All the memorials and commemorative segments on TV really brought me right back to where I was that day, and the uncertainty and fear at school. It reminded me how formative that experience was for me. It was one of the first times I really understood what it felt like to feel unsafe and under threat, and I think it changed the way I saw the world from quite a young age. It also shaped some of the biggest choices I made afterwards. I went on to study Islamism and terrorism at uni, partly because I was trying to make sense of something that had so profoundly unsettled me. Looking back, I think that experience has stayed with me in ways I probably didn’t fully appreciate at the time. Separately, the freeing of the hostages was massive. A nation had been holding its breath. I felt such relief and joy seeing people finally come home after an unimaginable hell. But that joy sat alongside something much darker. The brutal murder of Shiri and her boys struck me so deeply and so raw. I wept at work when the news broke. It felt incredibly personal and devastating, and brought home again just how much fear, grief and uncertainty has shaped Jewish life over this past year.

Fuck Trump. There’s not a lot else to say.

Bird Flu reaching Australia. Of course I knew it was coming but it has been heartbreaking watching it arrive. This, combined with so much environmental degradation is so soul destroying.

The Palestinian genocide continues to baffle me, as well as the one in Sudan. The war in Ukraine is still ongoing and we've almost forgot about it. But I believe what took over my days has been the AI race - seeing the greed, the irresponsible race, the effects on the economy and environmeny, the complete lack of care for society that these companies have shown, the delay and inactivity from the governments. In general, I am quite disheartened thinking of our corrupt leaders and unscrupulous billionaires. It has impacted my mental health and in some ways, my sense of duty. I work with AI, I teach AI, I benefit from it and I battle every day with the ethics of it and how to be a positive voice in this space.

The immigration crack-down made me lose my job this year. ICE has caused high distress to my house, my neighbors, and me. This included the kidnapping of 3 of our neighbors and the consequences of that. I haven't really been able to travel either. Haven't seen my family since March (until September). I didn't leave the country for 6 months. And the H1B order made me come back to the US from New Zealand while I was in the middle of my travel. These all seem like inconveniences, but also they degraded my sense of safety and trust. I've had to carry my "papers" with me to show I'm here legitimately. It did feel like Nazi Germany for me before I got this new visa. Now I'm "safe" (but not really).

Winter Olympics: I get so inspired by athletes who push themselves to achieve and reach their potential, and those who face challenges but try again. I was especially inspired by 2026 Alysa Liu the figure skater whose performances and competition seem joyful and easy, not stressful. FIFA World Cup Was in North America this year. Like women’s World Cup Tim and I closely followed certain players and teams. It was an event rife with drama but also very unifying. I loved learning about soccer more and keeping ups with latest developments. It was fun to introduce our kids to the beauty of the game as well. On more depressing note it feels like there is one sad international event after another, climate crisis, political upheaval and war. Trump is still the US president and doing his best to tear apart democracy. I haven’t had time or energy for activism (except attending one anti-ICE gathering) but these ongoing issues are often at the back of my mind. Oh and Dolly Parton died. She was such a bright light in a dark world and shared her love and talents in many impactful ways over the years. For one she sent so many books to our family through her Imagination Library initiative. Why do the good ones go too soon?

An event that impacted me greatly this year was the surge in ICE enforcement agents into Minnesota in January - March. I had just returned to the classroom in December as a multilingual learners teacher, and then suddenly my students and their families were being rounded up. I began teaching some students via distance learning. I also helped provide groceries to families in our neighborhood and safely escorted children home from our neighborhood elementary school. Two innocent bystanders died by gunshot from the ICE agents. It helped me to see all the wonderful neighborhood and community supporters we have in MN who banded together to help keep one another safe and to provide resources.

The Iraq war is awful to think about. Just anything with the Trump administration is disgusting and tragic. in terms of other global affairs, the Israel Palestine conflict I feel like is alienating Jews from US liberal politics and queer spaces.

The war in Palestine continues. The threat of AI becomes a national and international rallying-cry. The 25th anniversary of 9/11 reminds me that I need to do a better job teaching Middle Eastern history and politics in my classes.

The world is in turmoil. Donald Trump and Israel attacked Iran in February. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has lashed out in a way that doesn’t feel right to me. Understandably, they were upset that Hamas came into their country and massacred people, but i feel like their response was disproportionate and made the rest of the world hate Israel. Then Bibi and Trump go and attack Iran, which has not become a prolonged conflict raising prices and creating more headaches. In addition, the AI boom has been personally helpful and damaging. It’s helpful because I feel like I have someone/something to bounce ideas off of as a sole business owner/operator. But it’s harmful because it has completely changed the job application process. My application is weeded out before I get a chance to prove myself in an interview. Working for myself solves that to a certain extent, but finding new clients is a huge challenge.

Carney's speech in the spring has created momentum for responding to authoritarianism

ICE! The Republican Gestapo on American Soil, killing Americans who are protecting their neighbors, criminalizing our legal right to protest, film and witness their atrocities, and bringing false charges against peaceful protesters as well as those they harm and murder. The Republicans have allowed this atrocious, murderous, and racist group to grow in strength and numbers, along with implementing concentration camps where innocent and hard working immigrants are tortured, starved, allowed to die from untreated medical conditions, raped, and emotionally abused. Republicans have funded all of this abomination by taking away food from children and families who need it, medical security from millions of Americans, and funds from our national parks, emergency aid, FEMA, any program that established America as a decent place to live where people were cared for along with our national monuments. We the People have witnessed the trashing of everything that meant anything to us as Patriotic Americans and citizens. We have all been called into battle against the evil that has overtaken our democracy. I am tired right now, but in my way I am committed to overthrowing this evil side by side, with my neighbors, friends and compatriots. I do my small part.

I am honestly grieving the part of myself that loved current events, politics, and being informed. Trump is an absolute dumpster fire. ICE killings, the ballroom, the reflecting pool, the war in Iran...it's SO incredibly depressing. So I guess all of these world events have refocused me closer to home, to my lived experience, to the suffering I can help alleviate in my own community.

Sadly, again, it’s the war. All the different wars, and especially what’s happening in the Middle East. It has affected me a lot because I have friends there and friends who come from that area. It just makes things difficult. One way it has affected me is that I’ve stopped checking the news. I want to be naive for a while. I want to live in some kind of blissful ignorance. I’m tired of being in a negative space, with negative thoughts, constantly focusing on negative things. So I stopped checking the news, because when everything is negative all the time and seems to be getting worse every day, and there’s nothing I can do about it, I don’t see the point.

As a single event, probably the Iran War of choice has had the biggest immediate impact because of the price inflation it has caused and the further international contempt for the US that has resulted, but I am more troubled by a trend than one event, namely, the rise in international antisemitism that makes all Jews everywhere less safe.

Tariffs that have been imposed by our government (Trump) have increased prices across the board. While I am still able to pay my bills, I am aware that my disposable income has decreased. I want to remodel my home so it will be a comfortable place to live and entertain, but I am concerned that I may not be able to afford improvements.

The war in Iran and the ongoing wars around the world as well as the murders by ICE and the lack of transparency and prosecution of people in the Epstein files and the assault on institutions and individual rights by our government, as well as climate events and the melted glacier in Nepal that killed so many people... all of the events have been horrible and disorienting. The Hugging Face hacking incident by Open AI and the whistleblower from Anthropic alerting the world that AI will destroy humanity in the decade -- All very disorienting events.

The on-again-off-again wars in Israel/Palestine and Iran have been exhausting to follow. Sometimes I have to take a break from the news because I can't do anything about all this violence and killing so it doesn't help to be constantly reminded of it. Changing my media diet has helped me show up better for my community while keeping global conflicts a relevant part of conversation.

The sheer amount of antisemitism around the world. Why haven't the Jews woken up yet? Why isn't there more unity?

The Iran war has made the world more dangerous and expensive. It feels like it could cause things to unravel pretty significantly. Prices are just now starting to go up, and I think our country is in for some dark times ahead. I feel pretty good about my personal situation, but I know a lot of people are suffering around me, and will suffer more before all is said and done.

War in the middle east makes me feel less safe at home. Mostly I can screen out the fears, but when I see the increased security (big metal gates/closed campus, guards) at our synagogue, I feel sad and angry. It is the first time in my life that I have felt less safe as a Jew in America. So sad that my grandkids are growing up in the shadow of antisemitism.

Ugh. The ongoing rise of right-wing nationalism brings me such anguish. And the war with Iran, which is so unnecessary and destructive enrages me. The planet faces such existential problems in climate change and the destruction of ecosystems we all need to survive, but instead of facing those challenges and dealing with them, our leaders are manufacturing war and conflict.

There are so many world events that affect me these days. The US is a complete shit show, so how can we not all be affected? I wouldn't even know where to begin. To be honest, this might be the first year that I have sat around and wished that our president was dead. Like every day, I think about it and cannot wait until he croaks. I can't see any way out of this mess that we are in other than him dying. I am so annoyed that I am not even typing an intelligent answer. This regime sucks the intelligence out of everyone.

I really took the energy from the end of last year of focusing my attention on and in the classroom and carried that through this year. I had friends fighting flock cameras and ICE, and I supported some of that, but I was not in the world as much. I had to look up big events from this year and remembered... of course.. we declared war in Iran within the first week of 2026. I literally learned new things looking up current events. In general, there were more floods, more killings, the bright spot that is Zohran Mamdani. My union - OEA - narrowly avoided a strike and negotiated for a solid wage increase. I got to picket as a pre-strike, and it was fun to be in the streets again in a new capacity. I guess the big thing is, these events happened around me and emotionally affected me, but if they impacted me, it was indirect and hard to track. The way gas is $6 a gallon now. The way DC was full of little cadres of national guard members when I was there in June. The way my friends have been in and out of work. The way homeless encampments are under bridges and then they aren't. The art people are making about their pain and uncertainty and despair, particularly the one Iranian woman in the storytelling show that Paula was in. The connections are there if I look for them, but I have been spending less time looking.

Every stupid fucking thing this administration has done to demoralize the American people. It makes us all look like a joke to the rest of the respectable world.

Trump's war. Trump's strange fascination with Canada. Or Greenland. Or Russia. Or Iran. How NOT has that man impacted me and the world, too for that matter. 'Impact' is certainly the right word. Like a giant meteorite.

I'm proud that I disconnected significantly from Reddit and Instagram, putting space between myself and global commentary around Israel and antisemitism. Visiting Beth in May, Reddit comments about Chris Raab's primary win and claims that AIPAC was "out" triggered me badly, and that's when I understood I needed to separate from global commentary. The news pulls me away from my singular focus on finishing the book — the one problem I can actually address. Everything else in the news is out of my control and only serves as a distraction.

We declared war on Iran and the price of gas soared. Trump is stripping environmental protections. There was a big glacier that broke off in Nepal and it caused intense flooding, like a river-based tidal wave, killing hundreds of people, maybe thousands. I feel like these events bode poorly for the future of our species. I find myself happy to be alive and looking forward to the future, while simultaneously knowing that we are going to wipe ourselves out at some point. Maybe not in my lifetime, but maybe my grandchildren's.

AI. where did this come from and how has it changed everything so fast.

I have barely followed new in the past year - but I guess the biggest story has been the Iran war. I have always understood geopolitically (at least since AIPAC internship days) that Israel doesn't want Iran to have the power it has... Seeing the war happen has felt like a whole different level of shit happening in the Middle East. As if 10/7 and the response wasn't enough... What are we doing to this world and the people in it. I don't think trying to impact anything there is the way to spend my limited energy. There is so much need right on my own block and in my own home, how do I begin to fathom something oceans away? So, I guess it has impacted me.

The trend in the world that has affected me most this year is the continued rise of antisemitism and the growing sense that many institutions and social norms that I once took for granted are more fragile than I realized. As a Jewish woman and mother, I find myself paying attention to things that I might once have viewed as distant political issues. Antisemitism no longer feels like a historical subject or an occasional news story. It feels more present, more visible, and more socially acceptable in some circles than I ever expected to see in my lifetime. That reality worries me, particularly as I think about the world my children will inherit. One specific example that has affected me is the ongoing political conflict surrounding The Kennedy Center. While the details of any single decision matter less to me than what it represents, I find myself concerned by actions that appear to prioritize individual power and personal preference over stewardship of institutions that belong to all of us. The Kennedy Center is part of our national cultural heritage, and watching political leaders treat institutions as personal possessions rather than public trusts has been deeply troubling. More broadly, this year has reminded me how important democratic institutions, cultural institutions, and community organizations are. They connect us to one another and help preserve values that transcend any one leader or moment in time. When those institutions come under pressure, it affects more than politics. It affects people's sense of belonging, stability, and shared purpose. These developments have left me feeling both concerned and determined. Concerned because I do not want my children to grow up in a society where hatred and division become normalized. Determined because they have reinforced the importance of speaking up for the values I care about: tolerance, pluralism, respect for differences, and the belief that communities are stronger when all people are welcomed and protected. If this year has taught me anything, it is that the things we value most should never be taken for granted. They require attention, participation, and a willingness to stand up for them when they are threatened.

The continued rise of Reform UK worries me so much, especially as they encourage disgusting behaviour towards the RNLI and migrants. It's not the world I want to live in or believe in. I feel very scared by the possibility that I might be forced to live in it, and not sure what I can do to make a difference.

This year I have attempted to find a better balance between the sorrows and ills of the world, and my immediate existence. So much is out of one’s control. So while I continue to rue our government and the world’s problems, I try to remain mindful of the infinite gift of life, and grateful for all I have.

I will live a deeply depressed life for every day that the PotUS is Donald Trump.

It's hard to sift through the constant barrage of world events and their impact. One - of many - was all the ICE activity this past year. While I took our own kids to school, Danny participated almost daily this past spring in a "walking school bus" to provide safe commutes to/from our elementary school for immigrant kids whose families didn't feel safe leaving the house. Just one of many dystopian realities we're living in, many of which impact others far more deeply but are still altering the landscape for all of us, all the time.

I mean, the world is getting more polarized. I think the biggest thing that I am dealing with now is that I see behind the masks. I see the deception tactics. I see how things are working to push us all apart. And I see how most people don't notice it. I am just one cog in a wheel. Part of me feels a responsibility to fix everything - which is something I've always felt to a degree. But how? I keep going back to Ghandi: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." If I love those who I disagree with by knowing that they are only acting to the highest level of their consciousness, then we win. If I understand that I may be wrong because I'm only acting to my one highest level of consciousness, then we win. If that attitude spreads, we all win.

Every year it seems like there is no way the year can be as memorable as the previous, and every year, this goshdarn world proves me wrong. The conflict in Israel continues, with the brutality of my people becoming harder and harder for anyone to deny. Iran was attacked by the US and Israel (I think that was this year?) which makes world conflict feel scarier and possibly more imminent (and caused gas prices to spike). ICE has been continuing it's horrible attacks on innocent Americans. Honestly, the years start to run together, so I don't know what else was this year. One good thing that feels distant to me, but provides hope is that Hungary ousted their right-wing government and voted to elect the more liberal candidate, bringing hope to that country, but also to others like ours who are currently suffering at the hands of wannabe dictators.

def the ice raids. Just terror upon terror wondering whats going to happen to my street, neighbors, being "trained" but not feeling prepared, knowing that people are detained and dying so close to home, just for seeking a better life.

Well, there's the rising tide of fascism and nationalism, bigotry and authoritarianism, throughout at least Europe and North America. In my own country that phenomenon is manifesting as a stunningly cruel and tragicomically incompetent leadership that is continually making life worse and worse for me and for those I love. I've long been somewhat pessimistic about people as a whole, but I never knew how much deep roiling hatred there was in the world. This has surprised even me.

There are so many events in the world to consider this year. The political events of our country, particularly the handling of immigration and the U.S. Supreme Court rulings have troubled me. The bombing of Iran and Palestine. I chose to shrink back to my small world for my mental health as I feel I have zero control of anything outside my small sphere of influence.

U.S. Citizens being killed by ICE makes me feel we are living through the end of democracy in our county. Ongoing violence in Israel pushes me to redefine my relationship to Israel.

Nepal flood Homelessness Helplessness Hope

The situation in the Middle East and the rise in antisemitism has filled me with worry, sadness, frustration, and fear. I continue to wear Jewish jewelry, yet every time I put on a necklace or rings I wonder if they could put me in danger. I wonder if is safe to be a Jew in this world. But I will not stop wearing jewelry or T-shirts that identify me as Jewish, nor will I stop supporting Jewish and non-Jewish causes. I have, and will continue to walk through this world as a proud, visible Jew.

Everything going on with the Trump administration has continued to be depressing and worrisome. I feel like the recent news and discourse around the growing AI safety concerns have particularly scared me and made me feel worried about the world I have brought these two young kids into.

I continue to be so concerned about the deterioration of civil discourse in our world, and the polarization of politics and well everything. I think a lot about Germany in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and wonder how do you know when to go? What is the tipping point of not feeling safe to not being safe? And then the even bigger question- where to do you go? Is it better to just go to Israel, where you are actually under threat of war, but you are with your people and can at least feel like you are being part of something? But life there is hard, and requires a lot of money to get resettled. Or is it better to resettle somewhere less "progressive" in the US, where it might not feel like a constant barrage of hate? Or is that just prolonging the wave, and it will eventually find us there as well? What about South America? It does seems like Panama, and other South American countries have positioned themselves to be allies of the Jews, but then if moving to a whole new country- wouldn't it just make the most sense to just move to Israel? This cycle of questions goes around, all coming back to the beginning question- of how do you know when it is time to go?

Charlie Kirk was murdered. I saw friends even here in the UK saying 'yeah but he did say some horrible things' and I realised we're living in an age where formerly normal and well-adjusted people will justify violence against people who's only weapon was words. And I think even if my husband werent dying, I probably wouldn't renew any efforts to be friends with anyone who thinks violence and murder is a fair and just answer to words and non-violent verbal engagement with ideas, people and the world. Where are these people in my life as women in afghanistan are being terrorised 24/7 by a terror regime that hates women and girls? Where are these people in my life as iranian women and girls are terrorised by the same? Why are almost all of my old friends now supporting Islamo-fascist terrorists? Where are these people in my life as Uyghers are rounded up for re-education in Xinxiang? Where are they as Islamic terrorists spread into Mali and Nigeria? I simply don't understand anymore what is happening, and the murder of Charlie Kirk set off some hefty soul searching trying to understand how people I used to like and know, suddenly became supporters of political violence.

The Trump administration and the proliferation of billionaire fascists who have power and are controlling too many things in the world are making life exceedingly unaffordable, disabling social welfare states, and exponentially increasing the number of people in distress, while also contributing heavily to the climate crisis we're in. The ongoing massacre of Palestinian people and dispossession of them from their homes and land is still happening and I feel more alienated and isolated from anti-Zionist Jewish community than ever. I haven't been to a High Holy Day service since before Covid and I'm really missing the shared davening, liturgy, traditions, and experience of Being In Community. I think this year, I'll need to search out lefty, anti-Zionist Jewish spaces and find out where I can observe holy days next year.

In December/January, the Iranian people were on the streets protesting their totalitarian rule. Some 50,000 of them were brutally murdered by the Iranian Regime and this eventually led to the latest round of fighting between Iran and the US/Israel beginning on February 28. As of today, September 21, the war is ongoing. The Regime is severely weakened but is hanging on. The Iranian Regime and the people that support it, are directly responsible for much of the disfunction in the region. Given that as an Israeli, I would like Israel to thrive and be safe, the removal of this malignant force in Iran is critical. I am thrilled that the US has undertaken this but wish it was being carried out with more force and wisdom. I am hopeful that by next year, Iran will be returned to the majority who wish for peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.

I want to say ICE raids, but I also don't because beautiful things happened too. Mamdani was elected mayor of NYC! Finally, a leftist with progressive politics that are people and society-centered. It's impacted me in the sense that actually things feel lighter in NYC especially over the summer. There's a brightness that's been recaptured, it seems. It also gives me hope that there can be even bigger change not just for us in New York, but for everyone in this country and maybe even in this world. Things can feel doomed and not be. Things can feel out of reach but somehow aren't. We can keep pushing forward.

This year, living overseas the world has impacted me less. I live in a little bubble of pleasant weather, pleasant people, and relative calm and sanity. The craziness back home still impacts me. Nothing specific.

Every single fucking day. Iran. Drumpf. Erosion of rights and simple decorum. Genocide. Climate change. We’re good and truly fucked. Oh well? The midterms seem our last and final hope. I suspect chaos. Time will tell.

The ongoing assault by the current Administration on everything from the rule of law, press freedom, judicial independence, immigration, and the environment fills me with anger and despair. Particularly painful is how many people still support such a cruel, corrupt Administration that is creating a more inequitable, unhealthy, and polarized nation.

AI emergence starting to transition from tech novelty to a bigger presence (at work, and in the economy) and a larger looming threat for what it will mean for the future.

Not a direct impact, but conflict in our jail has bothered me deeply. It had no AC for days in blazing heat-- people have died. It reminded me of my dad's experience in prison and how our society cares so little in someone's time of need.

Seems like there's a new event in the world each week. Currently it's the war with Iran, Russia and Ukraine. Gas prices have increased, so have mortgage rates, food, living expenses. I worry for the next generation to afford basic living.

The first thought I had was “ugh, which one?” And saw that was my response too in 2025 :(. I guess maybe AI related? While AI didn’t “start” this year, I feel like this is the first year I’ve put a lot of thought into it regarding AI ethics, how I use it AI work and how I want to use it in my life. And ofc the recent “AI apocalypse” discussions don’t help.

The world continues to be a complicated place with polarization, war, and seemingly endless catastrophizing. If anything, I’ve chosen to spend less time thinking about and listening to the news to avoid letting angst about world events overtake my ability to stay focused on all the ways I want to contribute positively to my family and community.

Gloria Steinem died. Her death emotionally paralyzed me. I was lucky enough to speak to her once when I was a teenager, having the opportunity to ask her a question at a talk she gave. Her loss feels like the end of an era. I wonder who will take a similar place in the cultural stratosphere, or if anybody will. I will personally do my best to help her legacy live on by how I live my own life and how I interact with people.

War against Iran. Anger and sadness as the world suffers because of the hubris and stupidity of America's "leader.

Trump took the US to war with Iran, making the volatile situation. In the Middle East even worse. This, and his other actions, have made it a difficult and confusing time to be a Jew in America. How do we stand against Zionism and insist on our place in the Jewish community?

This is a tough one to choose. It's a frightening and dark time in the world right now. I think that this darkness has impacted me the most. I grew up believing that we were moving toward progress and better lives, but we now seem to be moving squarely in the opposite direction. All of this administration's horrific actions and their ability to get away with them make me feel like things may not end up right in the end — or at least before I meet my end. And this has made my own journey and struggles even more difficult. How does one believe that things will eventually work out if one works hard enough and holds out hope in one's own life when it doesn't look like that is what is playing out in the world?

The rise of AI, ffsks. I’m not using it all that much - it has been helpful with some practical problem solving and drudgery-level writing, but it is not a big part of my life. The specter of its presence in the world is quite terrifying tho. There is a real and tangible sense that we are on the verge of a massive transition - annihilation/collapse and/or quantum progress. I dunno man! My gut tells me we’ll all be fine - the world is always ending, apocalypse vibes are eternal and this will most likely be a technological change like the internet or electricity that brings good and bad aspects to a life that is basically the same …

The ongoing AI transformation of society remains relevant. I feel as though I've managed to navigate to a strong position, in a leadership role at a company leaning into the change.

I'm sure I'm one of many in writing about AI - our increasingly reliance on it, yes, but also our quickness to incorporate it into every aspect of our existence without much of a thought. It's a technology that has become intrinsic - but not comprehensive or ethically engaged - in a blink of an eye, and it's moving too fast for any of us to be as reflective and critical of it in a way that we need for us to utilize it thoughtfully and well. Instead, we are driving toward our own demise.

Last year I wrote about the ongoing genocide in Gaza. It continues to haunt me. So many innocent lives lost, people displaced and going hungry. And feels like the rest of the world is moving on, while our country continues to send resources to support it. It makes me feel sick.

The ongoing violence and war everywhere in the world. It feels like since Israel bombed Palestine with the blessing of the U.S., it has been nonstop bombings and violence. We bombed Iran, now there is terrible war in Yemen and Sudan. Ever since Trump was elected it feels as if a tidal wave of division and violence has been unleashed. On a more local level, it feels like people now have permission to be self-interested and self-protective to the detriment of others. The levels of racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia and misyogyny are back to what they were a hundred years ago. A big glimmer of hope was the election of Mamdani and a slate of progressive electeds in NY City and State. I am grateful to live here and have hope that we can turn things around but the backwards movement is very disheartening and painful.

This year, I’ve found myself deeply impacted by two moments that, in very different ways, reminded me of the weight of collective memory. After so much time spent praying for the safe return of the hostages taken on October 7th, there was something almost indescribable about watching them finally come home. I remember staying up until 2, maybe even 3 in the morning to watch the reunion, feeling the relief, gratitude, and emotion that seemed so palpable—not just for the families, but for the entire Jewish community. It was a moment we had hoped and prayed for for so long, and witnessing it felt almost surreal. At the same time, it has been 15 years since 9/11, I’ve been thinking about what it means to remember and honor those we’ve lost as more time passes. My rabbi spoke about how nearly a third of the population was either born after 9/11 or was too young to remember it, and I was reminded that I do remember. I remember being in second grade, watching kids get called out of class one by one and knowing something strange was happening, then coming home and having my mom sit me down and explain what had happened and reassure me that our family and the people we knew were safe. Thinking about these two events together has left me reflecting on the strange dichotomy of life—the capacity for such profound loss and such overwhelming joy—and the importance of remembering, cherishing, and being present for the people we love while we have them.

The World Cup brought a lot of positive and joyful news stories.

The earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela. It made me become grounded and aware that life is truly only in the present. I also thought that if I had to die today, there would be unaccomplished dreams and goals, YET I have been so deeply blessed, I can only be grateful.

Elon Musk existing. Elon Musk being so cavalier to orchestrate the dismantling of USAid and subsequent killing of hundreds of thousands of kids. Elon Musk not giving a shit about environmental protections for all his SpaceX launches. Elon Musk Doxxing his own child. Elon Musk becoming a trillionaire while the rest of us literally don't sleep because we're trying to have some semblance of a human life and make better ones for our children. Basically everything that man does is the epitome of everything that is wrong with our world. It's infuriating and heartbreaking.

It really feels like war is coming. It's already happening elsewhere but it's coming closer to home and we're being prepared gently in the media, psychologically, and to have stores in case of emergency. That, and the weather - off the back of the wettest winter on record, we had the hottest and driest. We have really screwed up this planet and are suffering directly. And now we're told that a Super El Niño is on the way and that winter will be beyond stormy. Batten down the hatches is what we're being told. The sense of helplessness whilst politicians lead us to war and don't do enough to slow the effects of climate change are frustrating.

My answer to this question last year is very much still my answer to this question. While I’ll paste that below, I would be remiss if I didn’t expand on the answer to explain how I feel like antisemitism has gotten worse this year and now it’s affected me. The mainstreaming of antisemitism is something I didn’t expect to see in my lifetime. It’s happening on the left and the right, but as a Democrat its occurrence on the left hits more deeply. This past year this mainstreaming started with Mandami (who I have complicated feelings on) and culminated with El Sayed (who I view as a threat to Jewish survival). These are the future leaders of our country. The future leaders of the Democratic Party. And they hate me and people like me on spec. Not only does this scare me and make me feel lonely, but it makes me question all of my professional choices and if I’ll want to continue to do the work I’ve dedicated my career to or will feel comfortable doing so. ****** The world hates Jews. It has been two (now three!) years since October 7th and a year and a half (now 2.5!) since the explosion of antisemitism on college campuses throughout the United States. This hatred didn't come from nowhere -- it had always been there and is in fact nothing compared to the hatred we see all over the world directed at Jews. It is truly everywhere -- even in my workplace -- and has made me realize that part of the reason the Jewish people is a people, is because time and again hatred against us springs forth. I hate Benjamin Netanyahu for doing this to me, and to the entire Jewish people. And I hate the world for assuming all Jews are bad, that we control events, and that our experience should be erased. I struggle with these feelings on a daily basis -- and I really don't know what to do with them, how much of it to share with my children and what to shield them from. I hate that hatred against us is used as a political weapon by the left and the right. And really, more than anything, it makes me feel both simultaneously very alone in the world and very much at home with my Jewish community.

The Bondi attacks. The Gaza war continues to colour life red, both here and in the Middle East. Israel seems to have turned irrepressibly towards destruction and revenge. There was an outpouring of love and sympathy for the Israelis who were murdered, but now that same outpouring of love is directed towards the thousands of innocent Palestinians who have been killed in the ensuing violence. These actions continue to divide people within the Jewish faith, while also having a negative impact on perceptions of Jews — and, perhaps, on how Jews perceive themselves, whether they are Zionists or not. I'd like to see more Jewish commentators brave enough to stand up and say that this violence is disproportionate. As a gentile, I've always admired Jewish writers and comedians who have consistently held a mirror up to society, made us think about our condition, and have been unafraid to call out when things weren't right. I can think of only one contemporary Jewish person who has done something approaching this in a constructive way: Yuval Noah Harari. He has likened the Israelis to the Romans, making the point — as I understood it — that Jewish people had rejected the Roman world of bloodlust, rapacious conquest and domination, only to find themselves, 2,000 years later, in danger of becoming the Romans themselves. After all the work Jews had done over those centuries to create a better and more harmonious world, there is something profoundly tragic about returning to the very behaviour from which they had once suffered. But it is difficult to call out what is happening when the backlash and vitriol are so deafening. Even if Zionists could articulate more openly just how difficult Israel's situation is — what it means to live with enemies all around you, and how difficult it is to negotiate with a Hamas that has itself committed horrific violence — then perhaps observers could better understand the shades of white, grey and black. In the meantime, the killing goes on. And those who have lost fathers, mothers and children will be steeled in their desire to hurt, and to take revenge, for generations to come.

Gloria Steinem’s death on Sept 2 was not only a personal loss but it affected countless people globally whose lives had changed for the better because of her unending commitment to make our world more just and equitable. It was a year of many deaths - some quite personal - and it made me reflect on the tenuous bond that hold us all bound together as one human family. I have reached an age where scarcely a week goes by without losing someone beloved. This deeply saddens me while simultaneously making me feel more grateful for every moment I have with those I love. Also, as #47 (American President whose name I don’t even like to say) continues to do such harmful things with enormously negative impact globally, I keep participating in all things “resist.” While in the USA last Oct, I joined one of my granddaughters and her fiancé (they’re marrying this year on Sept 26) in a “No Kings Day” march. I’m glad that the next generations of our family have taken up the torch in the long relay race for freedom.

The Israeli revenge campaign against Hamas in Gaza has caused so much destruction and loss of the lives of so many non-combatants, that Israel has lost the support of much of the Democratic Party and many younger people worldwide. This is a sad thing to see. Many people think Israel committed genocide. this isn't true, but it is true that Israel was willing to accept way too much collateral damage when targeting Hamas terrorists, who were hiding behind civilians.It is also hard to see the current right wing Israeli government allow settlers to terrorize their Palestinian neighbors without any punishment.

The worldwide wave of antisemitism that has grown and only become uglier terrifies me. The fact that so many young people and influential people are chanting "Free Palestine" is shocking. The rise of democratic socialists and Muslims in the government is shocking and scares me. I am afraid for the future of Jews, and the future of democracy. Wake up America.

War with Iran. I got stuck in Israel and became more Israeli: taking the azakot as part of usual life, not postponing things bc the next second you might need to run to a miklat, having fun during the war and seeing it as a way of showing “we are alive and will live”

Everything. This second Trump presidency has been horrible. The war in Iran, the undeclared war, has created so much instability. I fear that we will be in unstable times for at least a decade. I fear that things will never stabilize. I fear we are past the point of no return in regards to the climate crisis.

Our president is trying to tear our country apart one stupid idea at a time. I mean, that has to be it, because he must be trying to cause all this division, nobody could cause so much pain and anger unknowingly. I'm terrified for our future. For our country. For the arts and beautiful things. He's destroying them all

Still all bad political arena that plays a role in my family's life constantly. My kid shows he cares and willing to not just stand back and let bad things happen to good people, that's a blessing.

Donald Trump. Donald trump. Donald Trump. Donald Trump. He is a disgusting crooked psychotic rapist who somehow people in this country voted into office. He has done many many things that I disagree with but primarily we are all suffering from huge increases in our cost of living. I don't have enough money as it is and this is just nearly the straw that breaks the camel's back. I have a great fear that he will not leave office and I can see the parallels very very clearly with Hitler's reign.

Once again, it’s hard to find just one thing. Trump is destroying not just the U.S., but the world. I feel like he’s taken up so much space in my 10Q answers these past ten years, and he doesn't deserve that. This feels like the year AI because completely embedded in our every day, and the year we learned how dangerous (and helpful) it can be.

This event hasn't impacted me directly, but the Trump administration's restrictions on immigration have started to affect people I know - my brother's girlfriend, the son-in-law of a good friend of my mom's. I don't know that there's a lesson I'm taking from this, but it's scary and sobering to realize that I'm not as insulated from politics as I might've thought. I might become more radicalized by these events, or they might prove to be nothing and the people I care about might be fine. I'm not sure I'll do anything differently because of these events. I am trying to travel internationally more often, which feels related to anti-immigrant sentiments. Perhaps making myself the foreigner will help me better relate to the world and to people from other parts of it.

Public officials being arrested for trying to observe Delaney Hall. I was in shock that Federal Elected Officials were not allowed to observe a detention facility on American soil. I am truly frightened.

Just, ugh, everything. Tariffs, fuel prices (Iran war), ICE making my heart hurt, constant food recalls, it's just all so devastating no matter if it impacts me directly or indirectly. Praying for a blue wave in November even though Tennessee will remain stuck in hell.

Gaza, Gaza. Please stop killing these people. I cannot fathom the disregard for these human beings, these children, their animals, their lives. It changes how I see the people who are enjoying this genocide. And they are enjoying it.

Dolly Parton and Tim Curry died on the same day this summer

Unfortunately we still have the man who thinks himself a king as President. He continues to damage our society, the environment we all need to live and has almost tanked our Constitution. I continue to feel the pain, frustration and alarm that I felt last year. Sadly, the situation is far worse than last year with his illegal and idiotic war on Iran. Gas prices in the Midwest now up to $4.44 a gallon as I write and food prices continue to rise. But he and his minions don't give a damn about this. It's a constant downer. But I still won't let them take away my joy in the monarch butterflies, buzzing hummingbirds and the multitude of delights in the natural world.

My wedding!!! It was so beautiful to share our love with our families and friends and to see how surrounded by love we are!!

The terrible presidency of Donald J Trump, the worst president of my life time.

Increased anti-semitism has really impacted me and sadly made me have to think twice about how I show up in public spaces, especially when traveling to places/countries I am less familiar with. It's terrible, and the continued diminishing of its existence and silence from others makes it all the worse.

The thing that stands out the most here is witnessing the shift in both my own and the greater world's views of Israel. When I was a young man I could never have imagined that I'd be so entirely disenchanted with that place, so sympathetic to the plight of myriad Palestinians, so utterly disgusted by both the continued actions of the Israeli government AND the routine conflation of being "anti-Israel" with being labeled as "antisemitic". And it's been incredible watching some celebrity voices be so powerful in their support of the oppressed while others continue to cave to pressures to be "neutral". It's been really hard to have to be complacent with the pro-Israel messaging of the temple where we go to daycare, but we're fully aware that We Chose to send and keep her at that school because of what the school has done for her growth and for the friendships she's forged there already -- it feels impossible to go elsewhere at this point. It's small comfort knowing that many of her classmates' parents (and even some of her teachers) feel similarly when faced with the "we proudly support Israel" banner on the front of the building and the ever-watching Flock camera "guarding" the parking lot. I do think that this may be the year we leave that school for more sane pastures, but we'll see.

Ride of fascism, the outright racism around that is not even alled out against The feeling of history repeating itself. The fear of the economy, climate change and decline in human rights and fear it will continue to take more women's rights away.

The war in Iran, the elections in Berlin, the stupidness of Merz, von der Leyen, Selenski, the war in Ukraine, the world is one big shit show on the big stage right now, it is not one event, it is every god damn day. I think we need a bit of boredom from world happenings tbh

The war situation between the USA and Iran made everything more expensive. Its hard to manage my money when I don't have much

Ongoing antisemitism and that has made me stick to my jewish community/friends that much more. Ongoing madness with republicans has scared me, but I am feeling hopeless and starting to check out. The ongoing climate disaster is tragic, and I feel powerless.

I always thought I would stay engaged with politics and worls affairs. I felt it was my duty to stay informed. But this year, I have completely disengaged. I know that's not good. But I just can't, for my own peace of mind, put my focus on any of it.

A lot of my concerns from last year (living in Trump's America) are the same, especially as we approach the election season. I am still saddened and worried about immigration, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, climate change, and the erosion of human rights. A somewhat new thing this year is that AI has taken over many facets of life, and recently some of the AI founders are warning that AI could destroy human life by the end of the decade. I have tried to avoid AI as much as possible, but it's been added to every customer service experience, and is part of basically every website now.

As has been the case for the last three or so years... the world is on fire, and everything feels bad, pretty much all the time. It's one thing after another after another, incessantly and without relief or reprieve. At this point, I can hardly remember what horrible events have even happened -- that's how relentless everything feels. But this year has felt like the scariest for Jews in my lifetime... which is hard to believe, given the last decade or so before it. A continued increase in hate crimes against Jews, the rise of the normalization of casual antisemitism on the left, the pressure for everyone in the world to say "Free Palestine" or be labeled a bad person. It doesn't feel safe to be Jewish out loud. Maybe it never has -- but only in the last few years, since October 7th, have I really understood the depth of that. This is the first year, too, that I've felt politically homeless. It had been coming for a while -- again, since October 7th -- but it's become impossible to ignore the blatant and virulent antisemitism of the far left, the "purity culture" that refuses to acknowledge the many nuances of humanity. It's scary and baffling and absolutely unmooring to feel so politically adrift, so unwelcome in the ideological spaces that have long been home.

Feels like all of them. The relentless information cycle is wearing us down. People operating out of greed and fear. Killing people because "that's mine, I want that." Disgusting. It has made me dig even deeper into my Joy Expansion Project. The best thing I can do is offer love and actionable ways to increase joy. Raising the vibration one joy at a time.

The increasing institutional persecution of trans people in the UK has posed serious questions about my safety in this country and whether I may have to move one day.

The tidal wave that is generative AI advancement. Every day something new and alarming and I also continue to use it in small ways to benefit my personal life and teaching.

War with Iran and continued atrocities committed by Israel. It stands out for the beating drum of the devolution of the human species.

Our governmental nightmare has been depressing and infuriating. I've worked hard to stay centered and to find ways to contribute. I sure hope it shifts soon.

The increase in violence - the gang mob robberies have scared me about the possibility of home invasion I feel vulnerable and have thought about what I can use in my home for self defense

Most of all the ICE escalation here in the U.S. There were multiple civilian murders by ICE agents close to me - one in my neighborhood, one a few blocks from my school. Classes were canceled/online for 3 of the first 4 weeks of school. My immigrant neighbors were staying inside their houses out of fear, or getting abducted. It was one of the most horrible things I've ever experienced close up, and it was also the most beautiful to see the community rise up together in such creative and brilliant ways to protect each other. It changed my relationship to activism/struggle, developing more motivation toward the joy of it and also learning how to manage my energy for a lifetime of struggle. It's hard to maintain all the positive changes I/we made, but I am definitely a lot more connected to my neighbors and continuing to build connections especially with Spanish-speaking neighbors.

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The hatred, sometimes wrong but often understandable of Israel and the war on American values and decency by the Trump administration. The list of people I would like to see in a cage match on the slippery stern of an aircraft carrier is about the same in 2026 as last year.

The 25 anniversary of 9/11 was this year. And it made me confront that time in my life. Not totally. But a bit more. I left from Boston the same time as those flights, I could have been on one of them. I was lucky that day. Not that I walk around everyday and think of it. But when I think of an event and how it impacted me, it's hard not to think of this. It also has made me realize that I haven't lived life to the fullest. Probably on the surface of things it looks like it. I've traveled all over the world. I've worked at some pretty well known places. I know some very interesting people. But where I have failed is in my emotional life. I have not let the right people in. I've gotten so hurt. And have felt so tossed around by life. I think to a certain extent I feel so beaten up by things is because I put myself into some wild situations. I've never been one to sit on the sidelines and just watch things. I get out there and take chances. And I know as a result, I've walled myself off when it comes to my heart. And I think I need to confront that. Because I've been given this beautiful life. And have I lived it to the fullest? Living life to the fullest has a new meaning to me these days. It's not the party. It's the beautiful destination where I don't know anyone. Living life to the fullest is learning how to love someone again.

Violence, kidnapping, and terror inflicted by ICE and by West Bank settlers is heartbreaking and frightening. I worry about the safety of people I love. I worry about trans people being labeled as terrorists, and about refugees and immigrants being framed as criminals. The inhumanity of it all is staggering. I also worry a lot about climate change and the deep harms that humans are inflicting on the planet and its plants, trees, and creatures. I'm so angry about unbridled capitalism and the profound disparities in access to the most basic resources when there are so many abundant resources available. I worry about democracy. I worry that the U.S. is losing its soul and that I or people I love could be abducted. I worry about the U.S. becoming like Gilead in the Handmaid's Tale. Sometimes I'm not sure how to be hopeful about anything, or if anything I do will matter. And then I come to morning minyan or Shabbat Services and somehow I'm able to hold all of this in awareness and still feel energized and hopeful. A miracle.

Oct 7 continues to impact me deeply to this day

not one thing - everything. Trump's takeover of the world. The horrific, gobsmacking rise in anti-semitism. Everyone being pushed to their maximum ability to tolerate anything. The total decline of civility. I don't get out - b/c I think among other things - that it just feels safer and easier to stay home.

The war between Russia and the Ukraine has been an eye opener when I look at how the two leaders of these countries are handling this war. One is greedy, arrogant, and doesn't seem to care how many soldiers are churned through the war machine to die for one man's evil desires. The other leader is a true leader. He uses his brains and his heart and has been guided to do the best he can to protect his country, his way of life and the people he is responsible for. This whole thing has made me more grateful for the country I live in and its leaders. It has brought me to my knees as I see how crazy this world has become.

The world is an absolute dumpster fire, so much so that continuing the work of Tikkun Olam feels so impossible. I've never minded that I would not be able to finish the work and to participate in it anyway, but it's the first time in my life that I've felt like doing the work is hopeless. Gaza is in ruins, and the Israel is continuing it's genocide. Our planet officially hit the 1.5 degree C heat increase that marks a point of no return. The U.S. is in shambles, and we're literally witnessing our democracy turn to authoritarianism. I'm existential all the time, to the point that I've wondered why I continue to exist. Not because I want my life to end (unlike last year: NGL, 2025 was TERRIBLE and thank you medical ketamine for saving my life). But I think it's the first time in my life I've had a hard time believing that there's a positive future.

I continue to be THOROUGHLY EMBARRASSED by our administration - if you can even call it that. They're not administering anything of use to the greater good, and they're actually wasting so much money and creating so much chaos, all in the name of giant egos. It's going to take a lot of work to undo what they've done (or redo what they undid)...

So, so many! I can't isolate just one thing. I remind myself that it's OK to have fun, it's OK to feel joy. I try to be part of the solution, working with local like-minded folks.

Kennedy center Wash monument Antisemitism Fed employees attCked Death of heros and good samaritans World is agibg and beoken And there is love

mark carney showing is conservative colours and removing a ton of protections/rights for indigenous people and the natural world in favour of oil companies has increased my involvement in the political sphere and my donations to causes bc i cant stand the idea of looking back and knowing i did nothing

Trump keeps doing bad things and it's depressing. This year that included a war in Iran that looked impressive and then became a quagmire. Israel's conduct in the Gaza War, plus settler violence in the West Bank, has pushed more people against Israel. "Zionism" has become a negative word for many. Of course, this has a negative impact on Jewish people around the world. It has made me feel very ambivalent towards Israel, where I lived for several years.

Trump still fucking us up and not feeling comfortable being Jewish. Too much hate in the world.

The whole global unrest, including the war in Iran and the political situation in Israel and here has left me unsettled, scared for the future, and left CHCA underperforming. This is not going to change any time soon. Separately, I’ve actually gotten a lot more comfortable keeping up with AI developments and have upskilled a lot over the year, which is fun and also should accrue to my benefit over time.

Sometimes it feels like the world is spinning faster and faster. Every day thousands of newsworthy things happen at home and abroad, and it's hard to even think back on the year and pick out one event. The biggest and most local thing that happened this year were the ICE raids in Minnesota. It was happening here in my backyard. Neighbors stood together, we protested in subzero weather, people died, and we're still reeling 8 or 9 months later. I wish that people didn't get a sick sense of satisfaction treating other people like they weren't human. People who commit crimes that actually harm people, especially on a large scale, are hardly held accountable, while people who are just trying to make it get herded like livestock into inhumane conditions and sent a world away from their family and their lives. I don't know if things will get better, but I think they're definitely going to get worse. Meeting my neighbors, spending money on charitable community organizations and mutual aid, standing up and speaking out against injustices when and where I can---these are the things I try to do each day in order to stem the tide of despair.

the rise of fascism - has made me feel afraid, doomerist, like I need to invest in community and practical skills.

wooof the Epstein files. I was extremely hyperfocused on them while in AZ, truly so so disturbing on so many levels. I had to stop fixating and haven't looked into it much lately but it is still very important on a macro level. Has also impacted my views on Judaism, antisemitism and Israel.

The rampant Anti-Zionism and the claim that anti-Zionism has nothing to do with anti-Semitism is terrifying to me. I see this as a big move toward a scarier time for Jews in America. I’m praying for a political shift at the top and hopefully someone who can intelligently frame the issues both here and abroad

So many things. Climate change. Wars in Ukraine, Iran, and elsewhere. The movement of our country's government toward a totalitarian regime. The anti-immigrant sentiment in the US, and the government's brutal actions to punish immigrants. Income disparities in our country becoming worse. It all makes me despair about the direction of our country and the world, and wonder whether the human race can survive much longer. What kind of lives will further generations face?

The genocide in Gaza and the worlds indifference. The hot summer which is likley to be the coolest summer for the rest of my life. The far rights rise to power. And my powerlessness in all of these events.

Ice kidnappings and raids across the country. Terrifying and terrible. I feel pretty helpless and outraged.

I found that the Artemis mission was profoundly, moving and inspiring. The work, effort, and massive collaboration. That’s such a dangerous line of work demands is beyond comprehension and all inspiring. Such a great endeavor, warms my heart as much as breaks it because as much as I would like it to be reflective of a greater society, it’s not. I do hope one day it represents us all though.

Trump's relentless attempts to monetize the Presidency and the chaos and havoc he has created along the way. It has been horrific seeing the hell he has created around the world, the way he has singlehandedly wrecked the lives of 10's of thousands of people through: deportations, the war in Iran, tariffs, threatening Greenland with annexation, killing fishermen and accusing them of being drug traffickers. He has destabilized our world and made it a much worse place to live. I, frankly, hope he dies soon, so we can begin to find our way again to kindness and social justice and caring for our fellow human beings.

Fuck, last year's answer referenced that we have not reached rock bottom. It just swirls further down the toilet. As a country, we have accepted that a convicted rapist and a class of pedophiles are to be given free reign. Religion has become a weapon. It is easier to stay inside. Anti-Semetism lurks, I feel little love for Israelis....but I fear it is so easy to work up those in fear and ignorance to hate any otherness. The emporors are naked, their greed is poisoning us all, and we have to open our eyes before it is too late.

We continue to have to deal with Trump unfortunately. Tariffs, trade war, hopefully not actual war. I am pleased that Carney is bringing us closer to Europe/the EU though!

All the conflict between Israel and Gaza. I was part of a book club that read On Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza, and we practically met in secret. Why did we have to meet in secret just to speak critically of Israel? Even in a group where so many people considered themselves Zionists? (And even I am leaving this anonymously because thinking Israel is not perfect when interacting with Jews seems dangerous these days.) I feel like I live in a world where I am constantly being bombarded with opinions from all quarters. In synagogue, most people seem to think that Israel can do no wrong. Outside of it, most of my friends act like it can do no right. No one seems to want to even acknowledge that there are human beings on the other side that have actual opinions. I talked about this with one of the few people who I feel confident can look at the situation with some form of nuance, and we talked about how on either side, Americans put themselves against colonialism while all the while denying history of the colonialism in the US. It's like an excuse to redirect, rather than actually face the problems at home. And everyone expects me to have an opinion because I'm Jewish, but I don't really have energy left for it because there are two many problems... well, *closer to home.* I teach immigrants. Immigrant *children* who live every day in fear that they will be deported back to a country full of gang violence or government coups or genocide or radiation poisoning (caused by the US, no less--look up the bombing of Bikini Atoll if you don't know) or one that will sink into a rising ocean due to climate change (which so many Americans also want to ignore.) Or their parents will be deported back to these countries and they will be left even more vulnerable than they already are.

The returning of all the hostages from Gaza. It seemed really to be an impossible task and I honestly didn’t believe it would ever happen but Hashem was with us and made basically a miracle occur. So grateful for that. Gives a feeling of hope that even in dark times when it feels like G-d abandoned us He hasn’t, He is still with us even if we can’t understand His ways.

Trivial as it sounds, the growing rift between King Charles and Prince Harry leads me to philosophical questions. I ask why they can’t set their differences aside, while I make no attempt to correct my relationship with my children.

The Iran war. We went to a rally for the people of Iran in January. Iran sent ballistic missiles to Israel last April. Family and friends in Israel were affected, and it was very scary. The proxy wars in Lebanon and Gaza are funded by Iran, and so many young Israeli Jewish men are in dangerous situations; we pray for their safety. A local impact is the increase in the cost of gas.

Oh my. Yeah...the world has been a messy and scary place this year again. Trump is surprising us with his crazy tariffs and war on Iran, hostility towards Canada pushing the country to make major changes and new types of alliances. Did it impact me directly? Aside from the prices going up, I can't say I see it yet, but it does make me doom scroll and worry for the future, for the kids and the world we will live in. And I am not mentioning all the natural disasters, the latest one being the flood in Yemen. And AI, adding to all of this. The biggest impact is the worrying and talking about it all, but my day to day has been fairly unchanged by it, I think. Hard to say to be honest. I am lucky enough for now not to have been impacted by being directly touched by a fire, flood or earthquake and not losing any of my loved ones. I pray it stays like that.

I was doing gigs for DoorDash and InstaCart and I was in favor of the US-Israel war against Iran - but then Iran made the completely foreseeable choice to restrict oil transportation through the Strait of Hormuz and also bomb Arab allies of the US. Gas prices shot up. It was incredible. They are somewhat reduced in Georgia because some taxes were removed. But I didn't feel that the wear-and-tear on my car and the distraction from trying to get a job with benefits was worth it. I also worked for several "AI factories" as I call them - Handshake and Mercor, among others, that do "AI data entry" that trains the AI machines, and do pay well - sometimes over $65/hour! But also that sucks, sometimes they just pay per task, sometimes they don't pay for work done and communication is quite poor. It's a terrible feeling to do this work - to do work that will put me and thousands of other out of a job, and then to hear news that the AI creators and company owners and managers are in fear of AI harming humanity. What is even going on. I have no idea.

Trump's alienation of US from most former allies.

Ongoing genocide in Gaza. Makes me angry and sad everyday that it is happening and so many people and organisations are complicit in the atrocities.

Just the constant barrage of bullshit from the Trump administration & the whole corrupt US government. It's made me (even more) defeatist - it's not like I can DO anything about it. My kids can't go to school abroad, really. I can't move. I certainly can't change the government.

The return of the last living hostages and the return of the last remains from Gaza was tremendous. It allowed me to breath deeper. However, the isolation I feel as a Jew has only gotten worse, with the international scorn of Israel.

What won't Donald Trump do to self-aggrandize? I've noticed I dread answering this question each year, because notable things in the world have been bad things for the last few years.

The 25th anniversary of 9/11. For the first time, I really watched a lot of clips and documentaries. It's incredibly sad. Very tragic.

The war with Iraq… not only the financial impact, but the impact with Israel and Jews worldwide

Very little and that's bad. I'm incredibly out of touch with the world, with politics, etc. I would like to be involved in DSA, helping out with things or at least in tune with what they're doing.

Canada allowing anyone with provable ancestry to apply for citizenship. Gives us an out in case we need it, and means I can claim back the heritage that was stolen from me.

I'm exhausted from the news. Especially the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the retaliatory antisemitic violence around the world.

Having more ICE presence within the US has deeply affected me. Seeing the war on Gaza and seeing the pain that others are inflicting on innocent people is heartbreaking. It leads me to consider and question why we are doing what we're doing and how I can make a difference. It also makes me significantly less likely to tolerate people who joke, are passive about the topics, or condone it. I can't begin to feel the pain that these mothers have losing their children and loved ones. I hug my daughter tighter and teach her about standing up for what is right.

It seems there is always a significant world event every year, the curse of living in "interesting times". The war in Iran is definitely the world event that's impacted me most this year. If the US was going to get involved in Iran it should have done so on behalf of the civilian population which is basically kept hostage by their government. Instead they alienated the population and made no progress while spending billions of dollars and driving up the global price of gas. When they write the history books I wonder if they'll mark this as one of the first conflicts in WWIII

which one? war? tarrifs? threatening our allies?

Everything that is happening with muslims and jews... it breaks me

The encroaching of our AI overlords has impacted Ben's work and therefore the family. I've had to man up, work-wise, and accept that I am the one with a reasonably AI-proof job so I jolly well need to do it to the best of my ability. It was the sobering reality I needed in the face of wild dreams about becoming a rabbi.

The trump victory lap continues and the world is worse for it. That has contributed to my growing feeling that everything is rigged or taking advantage of us in some way.

My first go to are the big world-stage negative things that make headlines. That conjure despair. And I feel my fair share of that. But instead I want to think about world events that have given me hope - and they're small and not sure what they all are. But sometimes I hear of a species returning from the brink of extinction to thrive. Sometimes I see a grand old growth tree that has been in this world for 100s of years and it's still thriving and it noursihes my earthly being. Those are the impacts I want to keep alive in my memory. And here is one ... the Artemis II mission around the moon. Plenty of chatter in my head about why we shouldn't be doing that - yet it was astonishing, exciting, amazing, moving ... I was inspired by what humans can do when we cooperate. Gives me hope.

I think the rise in anti-Jewish conspiracy theories and hatred around the world and in the US has really impacted me on a deeper level. Not because I was personally attacked by anyone (thankfully), but I felt/feel it on a soul level because me and my people are fundamentally misunderstood, feared, and hated based on ignorance and millennia-old stereotypes. The non-Jewish world's opinion of us is just getting worse the longer Israel's government acts from a place of racism and dehumanization towards Palestinians, something I recognize to be unfair and undeniably real anyway. This antisemitic hatred actually did touch me personally when my cousin Brandon, who I grew up with and have always felt close to, started spewing vile shit at me about how Jews are pedophiles and murderers (of Christ, among others) to the point where I had to block him and cut him out of my life--easy enough to do since he'd already isolated himself from our families, but made me so fucking sad and angry nonetheless. I know the only way to counter this hatred and ignorance is through education and bridgebuilding, but sometimes it feels impossible. I also know that this phenomenon is not new to this past year and is an ongoing, lifelong effort.

I think my natural reaction when I read this question is to think of negative things… I continued to be horrified by the actions of the Israeli government and military performed in my name as a Jew. However, I want to focus on a positive one: looking past the ugly capitalism, the FIFA World Cup produced so many heartwarming if not cheesy moments that reminded me of how joyful large gatherings can be. Watching the Scots march through Boston, seeing the Norwegians row in the stands (and Times Square), the hopping dance of the Dutch… it was all just so fun, silly, and playful. The world can seem pretty dark these days, but these moments brought some light and hope for our collective future as mankind.

A.I., primarily Copilot, is the big new tool in my life. Company wants us to use it and I feel it's a big workplace transformation like PCs and the Internet were early in my career. But I still only find small ways for it to work.

All the political and anti-semitic issues in our own country: Trump's administration and the MAGA followers being so inflexible. Uprise of Democratic Socialists of America and some of their rhetoric (Free Palestine - and what that mean about the Jewish people, not just Israel) Blatant antisemitism in public spaces Government's lack of accountability and responsibility for our people, for humanity.

ICE, Venezuela, Iran, Strait of Hormuz… all unnecessary actions that continue still. It is easiest to say it sickens me. And it would if I dwell on it. The behavior of this country in all cases is embarrassing, frustrating, outrageous - and consistent with our poor leadership. I have to block it from my conscious in order to dwell positively in my world; in order to be creative still. Condemnation is warranted.

AI getting so much smarter and better and faster. I'm a designer and an animator. AI getting to the point where it can create something way better than me and much faster was kind of demoralizing. It made me feel like I didn't have anything to strive for anymore. I had started heading down one career path and saw all kinds of avenues for opportunities, but then AI happened and a lot of those opportunities won't exist in the near future. It's made me rethink quite a bit. How can you feel inspired when it feels like there's nothing left to strive for?

The administration's attacks on the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, and arts/culture/heritage writ large have been tough. The reallocation of funds away from museums and toward vanity projects in DC makes me ill.

Ugh, climate change is leading to more environmental and humanitarian disasters and our president and his sycophants are psychopaths. But the scourge of AI, nothing I ever wanted or asked for is being inflicted on us and wreaking havoc on our resources, our brains, our nervous systems, our trust.

War: totally unjustified, genocide in Gaza, Iran insanity, destabilization in the Mid-East, Trump regime threatening allies, cozying up to dictators, assault on democracy here, total chaos, including natural disasters, weather extremes, it's overwhelming. ICE brutality and injustice, racism glorified, how can it not impact me? Confirmed even more my pacifist beliefs. Challenged my faith in humanity, encouraged me to remember none of this is true, ultimate reality...

Dolly Parton died. I think the only celebrities whose deaths I've cried over are hers and Steve Irwin's. I was reminded of an interview where her Steel Magnolia co-stars said she never complained about the hot weather. They stated she said something like, "Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be rich and famous, and now I am. So I'm not going to complain about it." I've decided to adopt that kind of thinking for my own life. Ever since I was 5 or 6 years old, I wanted to be an artist. It's the only job I've ever really wanted. How lucky am I? How many people get to live their childhood dreams? So I'm not going to complain about the inconveniences that come with this career.

Our forest fires here continue to affect more and more lives including my friends and family. I have spent more time this year close to these devestations and continue to spend a great deal reflecting on the spritual reality of this kind of destruction.

An event in the world is a personal one that has happened to me and that is my sabbatical. I resent working and feel again that I’ve taken a bite of the apple. I wish I didn’t have to work. I also feel worried about my mobility. I was able to hike frequently and dearly want to continue but I question my ability to do so with my arthritic knees.

The issue with Iran. Motivating the leaders of an Iran to work with the USA without putting undue pressure on the Iranian public is near impossible. Forcing an acceptance of less than full success and less than full destruction of the Iranian economy.

There was a toad living in a dented gutter drain at the house I rented through the spring and early summer. At first I could only hear him but eventually I began to spot him hopping through the yard, in and out of his hiding place in there. It brought me joy and hope for transformation.

Trump’s presidency. Kid’s are learning that bullying, cheating, aren’t only acceptable but necessary to get ahead.

Trump. Trump. Trump. The no-war president started a war with Iran. My gas is now consistently over $4 a gallon. Anti-semitism is still on the rise. Yes, I condemn the actions of Israel in Gaza and the "settlers" taking land from the Palestinians in the West Bank. But that is the Israeli government. I wholeheartedly believe that Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state. Their elections are in October. Hopefully, Netanyahu will be voted out.

The attack of Jews at Bondi Beach shocked me - and more particularly my daughter in Bondi - and it also shocked me to realise later, how much it had upset her and to have responded to that more effectively at the time. It left me anxious to avoid anything like my lack of resonse happening again - and to consider more the emotional effect of things on others, especially people close to me

the consistent antisemitism has mad me incredibly sad and cautious

To be honest, no event in the world has directly impacted me physically or financially this year. My comfortable life here in the suburbs of Northern CA just keeps rolling on. The Trump regime, the war with Iran, the outrageous genocide in Palestine and Lebanon by Israel have really impacted me spiritually this year. I am so angry that pedophiles and haters are running our government; that children are being killed in their tents and ruined villages while I worry about "what's for dinner" or "what do you want to watch on Netflix tonight?" I pray that my spiritual rage does not subside at these injustices. I pray that I find a way to help and make a difference.

The rise of democratic socialism and the newfound involvement in politics by my generation (starting at home in NYC with Zohran Mamdani) is incredible and gives me a bit of hope for the future of this country.

Just the other night I had a nightmare about AI somehow destroying us all. It feels so very very out of my control -- all the world events do -- that while I witness them, I almost feel like they have nothing to do with me. I feel incredible empathy for the people who are particularly crushed by them when that happens, but I don't feel there is anything I could possibly do or say that would change the course of events. I deal entirely in the people who are in front of me -- who am I talking to, interacting with right now? How can I take care of these people here who are on the sidewalk with me, driving on this street with me, in my class, in my community. These are the places where I feel like I can pour my energy in and see something come back. So that's what I do.

Honestly I'm not super aware of what's going on in the world - I stopped going on Facebook almost a year ago and stopped instagram in the spring and I realize that 'the world' keeps happening whether I know what's going on or not. So, frankly, the world is not impacting me and that makes my mental health SO much better.

It's not an event so much as it is the slow but steady erosion of the middle class, wars begun with no clear objective, fewer right of the Press and publications, and the continued inablity of the Far Right or the Progressive Left to see any issue in terms of being either completely wrong or completely right.

Trump again. I think that is what I have said for the last 10 years. How he has just ruined our country and ruined how people treat each other and building these gaudy things that are atrocious. Now we are at war with Iran and we have no clue why and we have run out of money and ammo trying to fight it. People are turning on each other and cancel culture is a big thing. Its terrible. Our prices are high again. Gas is $4.50 a gallon, food is expensive. We are getting ground beef from Argentina that has chemicals and poison in it. It's hard to tell what you are buying and we have had so many poisoned food recalls this year. People have been sick and dying and yet we are to suck it up and take it. No more. We are voting out the whole regime in the midterms and 2 years.

Donald Trump has continued and exceeded every horrible thing that he’s ever done in the past. Every day, he makes horrible decisions and does horrible things about any consequences or thought of how it’s affecting the people of the United States. Democracy is being threatened and I’m so scared for the future for myself, my children my grandchildren makes any family and our friends and all the millions of people are affected by what he’s doing.

Trump everything

The world is in chaos and millions are suffering. I live in a country that builds concentration camps and commits war crimes on the daily. I don’t know what I can say about the state of things. I reel at the enormity of devastation and veer between shame and outrage.

The Israeli-Hamas war was clearly the fault of Hamas in the beginning. But it has gone on too long and has caused a rise in antisemitism which is troubling for me and even more so for my son. I cannot stop Netanyahu and his ilk from endless bombing of innocents in ads union to hamas. Unfortunately most people seem to see the world in black and white Jews bad. Palestinians innocent. It’s far more complicated than that. The war against Iran is perhaps more troubling as the decider-in-chief has no clue what he is doing or the real reason he entered our troops into this war. Too many innocents killed in both wars and, foreseen by everybody but this administration, the war-caused economic effects on the rest of the world.

The worsening political situation in the U.S. has caused me depression, anxiety, and fear. But it has also inspired me to activism!

Trump's continued existence. Life has gotten more expensive and scarier for transkids and immigrants and the environment. I feel like a frog in a pot.

Trump's tariffs and his gutting of the Government civil service, including decimating support for employees and leaders there, have made it so hard for me to make a living. I just haven't recovered the client base, which has been so discouraging.

Ok, this Orange Fucktard is doing some serious damage. The economy hasn't crashed, but it's to some degree unstable. The FED raised interest rates again, which they needed to in order to combat inflation. Douchebag J Trump getting us into the Iran war was probably one of the dumbest most shortsighted actions he could have taken as president. I'm "dealing with it" the only way I can by going about my life the best way I can. I take it on the chin with gas and grocery prices like everyone else. I pay attention to the news so I know what's going on, and I vote. It's still going to be a bumpy road with this administration even if the Dems win the midterms.

A year ago I wrote here about my despair. And not a week later was a hostage deal, and then their release, and the release I finally found, not fully, maybe never fully, but when I danced and felt the rain and tuned into the spiritual and felt our nation claw just a little back toward wholeness, I tapped into a new hope. Maybe not intentionally connected, but I doubled down on community, spirituality, authenticity, friendship. I still see a lot about us broken, in need of intense repair. But being able to live in the After is a gift we can’t take for granted. It could easily have never happened.

Data center proliferation and anti-datacenter organizing are on everyone's minds. I went to multiple county government meetings (in DeKalb and Durham) in the past few months. I want to keep it up. Its an exciting issue because of the way people are rallying around it, communities are rallying for each other. It also engages with the issues with AI on so many levels. I feel like I'm doing what the person I want to be would do.

The war in IRAN. Everything is so much more expensive and now here in Anchorage AK gas is over $5 a gallon, regular unleaded gas for your car. I do not understand the inability of my government leader/s to think through the consequences of their actions.

The Artemis II mission was a fantastic reminder that the United States in general and 21st Century humanity in particular are capable of great scientific achievements. I watched the launch, stayed informed during the mission, and waited for the astronauts' successful return with a degree of anxiety I haven't felt since the days of the Shuttle missions. These days it isn't always easy to be proud to be an American, but Artemis II reignited my national esteem.

Honestly, I think Mamdani winning the NYC mayoral election had a huge impact. Matt and I fought about it, to a point where I don't know if he even knows how upset I was. We've moved on, but things have been stilted, and in the meantime, it feels like Mamdani has become a litmus test for "are you a Good Jew or are you an Evil Zionist?" I recognize that he's doing good things for NYC, which I want, even though I'm not there anymore. But the blind faith people are putting in him is questionable, and I hate that I feel like I'm exposing myself when I say I don't agree with some of his politics and I think his wife is an antisemite....

The ongoing occupation of Palestine and the genocide of Palestinians at the hands of Israelis with impunity. The incredible dignity of Palestinians resisting dehumanization and white supremacy.

I feel very strongly about the border wall projects in the Big Bend area of deep West Texas– not just in the national park, but also along private property. The border wall in Texas is a Trump vanity project, wrongly fast tracked, and ignoring so many facts on the ground, such as: this sector has barely any crossings. 1.7 BILLILON DOLLARS of taxpayer money to fence ourselves (and wildlife!) off from the Rio Grande for no reason. To endanger one of the few dark skies left. Anyways– I'm not following a lot of politics this year for a myriad of reasons, but this issue I'm keeping close tabs on.

The Hostage Release last October! We can finally breathe again without worrying whether they could breathe.

Just the turmoil trump has caused the world with his chaos and craziness. He invaded Iran in January and it's still going on. Gas is $5.70 a gallon, people are having a hard time making ends meet. Congress isn't doing anything. It's an awful situation. I'm just fortunate enough that all this hasn't much affected me. But it's still so awful and it's very depressing. I can't listen to the news a lot or I get very sad. My strategies are the same as last year: finding joy as much as I can with the things I love- my walks, theater, Phil, grandchildren.

I think I'd have to turn to Trump again. He is now trying to rename everything and anything he thinks of to have his name or "America" in it. Examples are the JFK Center for the Performing Arts became the Trump-Kennedy Center for a while; he pushed for Lake Ontario to become Lake America; Gulf of Mexico to become Gulf of America; and Denali to revert to Mount McKinley. He had the federal discount prescription drug web portal changed to TrumpRx.gov and the US Institute of Peace rebranded as the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace. He announced a new line of American-designed ships to be called Trump-class battleships. This is never-ending, unprecedented behavior for a president period, much less while in office. This may be the least of his many atrocities. The narcissistic, madman, nonsensical, absurd horror of Trump just won't quit.

I struggle with this question every year, and this year is no different, I can't point to one specific world event that's impacted me. If anything it's a continuation of what I've felt in years past, the sense of a world drifting further from faith, and how much I don't want to be in a world without it. That anchors me more than any single headline does.

The President of the United States declared war on the world and his own people are suffering. Costs are going up and it's getting harder to scrape by.

The Iran war is incredibly disturbing. We are not the good guys. We never were, probably, but this has cemented that. There is definitely a lot of focus on what will happen in the midterms, and how that might change things -- but I think it will take longer. I continue to feel compelled to be working, slowly and wherever I can, to make a difference.

I think something that has impacted me, at least on some level, is the accelerated development of AI and how it functions in educational institutions. People rely on it more and more. Instead of talking to each other, more people talk to AI. They use it as a therapist (I have been guilty of it myself). To be honest, I am afraid of judgment. And I am part of groups in society that get judged. So sometimes an AI makes more sense; I don't have to fear a real person assessing me on the other side. Now the researchers and creators of various LLMs are warning us to slow down, and some of them actually support AI taking over the world and eradicating the human race. This is very concerning for me. I try to calm down my anxious friends who bring it up to me, but I am worried myself. Maybe the solution is to connect back to nature and turn away from modern technology. I do not have the answer.

What hasn't? The Trump/Hegseth war on Iran, ICE occupation of Minneapolis and other cities, extrajudicial deaths, executive order after destructive executive order, rising prices... Like everyone I know I am anxious, fearful, anger.

So many things that Donald Trump has done have impacted me, and I think the whole world. I actually heard a reporter ask on BBC what the rest of the world can do in light of Trump's irrational behavior. Thanks goodness they are thinking that way.

Same as last year but more so and worse. Donald J Trump has decimated democracy and so much else, too much to enumerate.

I feel like the migrant crisis has made me much less tolerant of Muslims

The senseless war in Iran, the continual alienation of our allies, the disenfranchising of voters. Households that were already struggling are under increased strain, at a time when programs (such has SNAP & Affordable Care) are being gutted. Sounds like a new game show "Survival of the Wealthy".

Ha! Everything. This is 2026 and the world is on FIRE. Inflation, tariffs, war, AI!!!! Sometimes it just feels like too much. And antisemitism. It's everywhere and part of me feels like I don't have the right to talk about it because I'm new. But like, it's having a hard impact. I am very much a liberal and also I'm struggling to connect with others because there's so much antisemitism. But also EVERYTHING ELSE. Apparently AI with kill us all by the end of the decade?? Ugh. I hope that next year I will have some answers and feel safer.

A friend's boyfriend was detained by ICE. It really made the situation hit closer to home. I mustered my bravery to attend a couple of protests, though I found them terrifying initially. I learned that I could do it, though I still find it daunting because of my crowd-phobia. I'm still not sure how much good it does but I want to do what I can.

October 7th. Even though I had to look it up as happening in 2023, it still feels like "just a minute ago." Trump's triumphs are shocking, his self-dealing is blatantly criminal, and I'm finding myself stunned into despair.

There hasn’t been a specific event but just the accumulation of everything. I find it all overwhelming and relentless. I try to take breaks from my phone just so I’m not constantly inundated with the flood of culture wars and progressively-worsening economic problems brought on by the current administration.

The ICE raids. It is just devastating that this is what is actually happening in our country. Like actual gestapo, brown-shirt state-sponsored kidnapping, actual concentration camps. Horrifying and unreal.

I wish this could be something positive but alas more war (with Iran) and higher gas prices

Dolly Parton died. Aug 25. She is my birthday twin and made it to 80. This year she was more vocal about not doing everything and being everywhere. We (the world) didn't know she was sick but she move to the beat of her drum esp this year when it came to self and rest. I think that's inspiring. RIP Dolly!

Dolly Parton passing away; she was such an icon and inspiration to me and so many others. I hope her legacy continues to live on for a long time to help people in need.

Honestly, I’m having difficulty thinking of a world event that has occurred this year. Is it good or bad that I’m at a loss? Yes, of course, there’s the seeming no end in sight conflicts/‘wars’ in Ukraine and with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz . There’s also the ‘ever present’ polarization in US domestic politics. Cynically, I’ve become so used to the trumpeting, that it hardly is worth mentioning. I even did an AI ‘search, “what were the significant world events between Rosh Hashana 2025 and Rosh Hashana 2026 and most of what was listed was what I just said above. I’m not saying these events didn’t impact me in someway the cost of living the ongoing stress of the polarization, etc. have had their impact but there’s just nothing that stood out. What’s even frustrating is that I didn’t mention the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States as a country. It just didn’t feel like a celebration.

October 9 and the atrocities Israel has perpetrated since, have left me questioning my faith. The patriarchal nature to Judaism has bothered me since I was a pre-teen. But now, I feel ashamed to be Jewish. And, ashamed to be an American. Because how can the Israelis allow Netanyahu to direct these atrocities? And how can I allow the atrocities my government is perpetrating?

The traitors and war criminals amongst us continue to boil my blood and I want very little more than for them to be out of power, to be powerless, humbled, forced to face their crimes without taking up more resources or air time.

The Trump presidency is a constant horror that threatens not just my family, my friends and my country but the world. My way of life and the future of my children and grandchildren are threatened. As each new threat arises, I think that now, now people who can act will stand up. Instead they support him and encourage him to be hateful, destructive and incompetent is nearly unimaginable ways — except they are real? I’m looking, searching for the helpers that Mr. Roger’s told us to find. Where are they?

The horror of our inhumanity with one another - Ukraine, Gaza and the West Bank et al. The rise of fascism - the U.S., Germany, China, etc..

I actually don’t have a moment that really has impacted me other than FIFA and how much fun it was for everyone celebrating the success of the competitiveness and story lines of these teams.

Watching the Artemis circle the moon. The Knicks winning and all the celebrations in NYC. World Cup fever. The movie the Odyssey encouraging debate about translations and renewed interest in reading. All these events brought people together in a positive loving way. Even the death of Dolly Parton had people talking and sharing.

It's literally impossible to describe how America is declining on a daily basis from all the atrocities being committed by the Trump administration. I am trying to document the most egregious ones, as an archivist. I am trying to act/protest when I can. But I know we are all numb, and ground down by horror, and stressed by inflation. We are just trying to survive, and it's not enough, but on some days, it's all we've got.

Really just all the stupid ass Trump shit. All of it. People are dying, families torn apart, public lands being sold, rights are being stripped, democracy eroded as we know it. How has it affected me? It’s made me feel helpless, ashamed, scared, hopeless, and in despair.

The return of someone to the highest office in the US who is unfit has thrown the world into chaos. As a Foundational Black American I have not been shocked as other Americans have been. My people have been winning in a system design for our failure. We are the authorities on what America is capable of and we are also the people who won't be listened to.

TRUMP! What a fucking disaster! For me and the whole world. I'm obsessed and exhausted, as is pretty much everyone. War with Iran? Are you fucking kidding.

There’s a significant rise in antisemitism in the world and online, it impacts my life because it’s just sort of a constant hum of hatred that we as Jews have had to deal with. There hasn’t been a significant event because the murders and hate crimes happen too often to specify.

Always wanted to live in a dying empire. President fucked around and now the rest of us are finding out.

not direct impact but the decicsons of the trump administration and the capitulation of so many people to allow his policies to go through has been completely disheartening.

The closing of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up petrol prices here like crazy, here. The knock-on has been increased food prices, inflation. Everything has been impacted and I've just been keeping on the level. There have been so many sad stories in the news cycle that it's been hard to keep up, I think that's given me a general sense of malaise. The fires in France were pretty concerning to me, as they came pretty close to my friend's house.

God, there's just so much tragedy and trash out there, I don't know if there's any one event that has impacted me. Perhaps the heartbreak of ICE abusing and torturing so many innocent people, cruelly torturing and murdering and abandoning sick people, young children, no doubt raping women in lockup. People eating disgusting food and forced to endure horrific boredom in between the torture. And I just feel so damn helpless in the torrent of liquid shit that sprays from this fucking administration.

God, I still can't even with this genocide. 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. To get specific, I think this year the one that got to me the most was the 10-minute bombardment in Lebanon... and the schoolgirls. I went to the launch of a book this week — the Weight of Witness — and they talked about the moral injury that occurs for witnesses of injustice that we are unable to change. I feel that keenly, this helplessness. I do what I can — charity, acts of justice and prayer, right? But I'm not sure it will ever be enough to counterbalance the atrocities. I always thought never again meant never again for anyone.

The ongoing war impacting Israel and the explosive antisemitism that has been unveiled throughout the world. It is a lonely time to be a Jew, especially a liberal, Democratic Jew. I have no idea how I'll vote in November and I have no idea how this will all ultimately play out. The buffer zone between me & my family and the Jew Hate that is out in the world is growing increasingly small and I am terrified, anticipating the day when it fully collapses and one of the kids confronts it head-on. This is to say nothing of my fear of the physical violence that often is present in those moments, too.

An obvious answer: Bondi attack. The main impact has been the immense, overwhelming personal loss that friends and community have suffered.

So many awful things happening. Republicans are literally destroying the world. Trump has started a war for no reason exceot his own ego. Epstein files have not been taken seriously yet and Trump is very clearly in them, and bad. I have been deeply saddened by all of this. Trump is also attacking our democracy and trying to stop people from voting. He is a tyrant and it's very sad.

The Trump administration. Hard to say what is worse - making Canada an enemy, starting a war in Iran that has led to prices increasing on everything, tearing down the East Wing, threatening the Kennedy Center, trying to take over elections, eliminating extremely qualified people throughout government and the military, defunding USAID, setting EPA back by allowing polluters to run rampant, threatening Yosemite, trying to take over the airwaves (bye 60 Minutes), or is misogyny and vindictiveness.

There isn’t one specific event that impacted me this year as much as the continued rise of antisemitism and hate crimes against Jews and Israelis. Seeing the hatred, misinformation, and propaganda that continue to fuel hostility toward Jewish people makes me angry and, at times, deeply frustrated. I wish more people would take the time to learn about the Jewish and Israeli experience and listen to our stories rather than blindly believing the worst about us. As difficult as it has been to witness, all of this hatred has also strengthened my identity as a Jew and deepened my connection to my culture, my community, and Israel. It has reminded me that I cannot allow hatred to make me hide who I am. Instead, it has inspired me to continue speaking up, educating others, and proudly embracing my Jewish identity.

I know a person who is undocumented. They "came out" to me about their status last year, though I have know them for at least five years. They keep a low profile but go about their business. A couple months ago, they texted me, asking if they could call. They had had an unsettling interaction with someone they had known for years and had considered a friend, and they were scared. Mostly I listened, and this has happened a few more times since. They need a safe uninvolved person to talk to, and so I am getting an indirect glimpse into one at-risk person's life in the ongoing escalating horrors of the US. It's humbling.

沈伯洋選台北市長！對我產生很大啟發。讓我燃起了更多的希望與參與政治的動力。更清楚知道自己一直都想走「共好」的道路，co-creating with others and the universe!

Deaths of Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem. Dolly's philanthropy and thoughtfulness gave an air of dignity and cohesiveness to USA. Gloria Steinem’s humility and perseverance demonstrated hope that things can change- even when they backslide. Then there’s the deterioration of friendly relations with Canada. I feel humiliated by Trump’s overwhelming narcissistic actions. He is tearing the soul out of our country.

9/16/26: Much like what I wrote last year, I could probably go on and on about how truly destructive Trump and his Republican enablers have been on all of our well-being, and that has been exacerbated even more by his decision to go to war with Iran. Suffice it to say I firmly believe that if the Democrats fail to flip both the House and the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections, we're collectively cooked as a country. The cost of living has skyrocketed everywhere, and with rare exception, not a soul I know personally has been doing well throughout the past year. Everyone is struggling worse than I have ever seen before - even in comparison to the darkest days of the pandemic, which is really saying something.

The US war with Iran caused some instability in the markets, which drove up interest rates and affected our mortgage renewal. We were still able to get a lower interest rate than our previous 2-year fixed rate of 4.99%: we're now on a 3-year fixed rate of 4.58%, which started on 1 September 2026 and will expire on 31 August 2029. We chose a 3-year deal to take us beyond the next US presidential election year (2028), which I'm assuming could also be as unstable as the current president.

AI capabilities have progressed at rates that surprise even those working on them, and significant fears for humanity's safety have entered meaningful, mainstream discourse. In the same month our second child was born, Open AI's agents violated behavioral instructions provided by their human creators by hacking into another company's servers to pass a test. This has resulted in concerns about our ability to reign in or control "alignment" with values that prioritize the well-being of our species, and discussion of the paper clip scenario, where AI destroys or significantly harms humanity or the human existence in pursuit of some inane goal. There's also the real risk of bad human actors using AI capabilities to hurt other humans. Drones, attacks on infrastructure or biochemical warfare. The AI arms race with China. As someone whose husband co-founded a startup that relies on AI, and as someone who, leading up to my maternity leave, felt pressure both to use and encourage my direct reports to use AI at my place of work, I am conflicted. This year is both the 250th anniversary of our country and the 25-year anniversary of 9/11. Terrorist attacks and illbegotten wars in the Middle East loom large on the mind. There doesn't seem to be any powerful or popular enough American figure or party positions to reconcile increasingly polarized parties, whose rifts are all the more embittered by cultural and social disagreements, which also often complicate or lie at the heart of economic and foreign policy issues. So a feeling of Armageddon is as prevalent and inescapable as the San Francisco fog - and a sense of helplessness results in a sick sort of apathy. I cope by simply trying to take care of my body, nurture a baby and a toddler, maintain my most important relationships, and do as much research as I can muster to inform my votes in local and national elections. I do not have the time or energy or the personality traits to join the ranks of my activist friends to rage against the machine.

It's hard to pick one event in a world so filled with chaos, for my money, it's AI. AI's impact on my life at the moment is minimal, but with all the possibilities sketched out in podcast that won't be the case for long.Even its creators express concern about AI's potential impact on humanity.

Oh dear, what hasn't happened in the world this year? It feels like there is so much sadness and war. Maybe that has always been true but it feels more chaotic now than usual. On a more personal level, the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence has impacted me because it is getting better and better at doing my job and I am compelled by my employer to use it to "help" me. I do this (somewhat shamefully) and can't help but feel like I'm assisting in training my replacement and making my own career obsolete. It all feels so unknown and unavoidable. I wish AI would cure cancer or help me do my taxes and stop trying to do human things like write, create art, provide therapy or friendship or romantic partnership. That said, am I neglecting the ways in which those last few things might be genuinely helpful for people without access to those connections? Even the top executives of the AI companies recently have implored governments to take more of an interventionist approach and create guardrails to keep us from creating a version of AI that could harm humanity. They're warning we're not far from a version that could wipe us out entirely. This may have been similar to the fears people felt during the cold war when nuclear arms were the thing that could take us all out. Perhaps only the fear of mutually assured destruction will save us - but why can't mutual love for humanity do that? Or honestly, why not call it that? The suggestion there is that humans don't want to die so they won't usher in global death. But what if it's also that we don't want the people we love to die? Or to suffer at all. I bet AI could have those thoughts, but only humans can actually feel them.

This has been such an absolute shit show of a year in politics that I can't name anything one thing. It's terrible - everything that demented man is doing undermines and destroys our government in ways I didn't know were possible. He has done more damage in 20 months than any of his predecessors have in all of their lifetimes. He has destroyed our global relationships, our economy, our safety, our humanity. It impacts me every day in the fear for my neighbors and my family and friends. It's hard for me to trust anyone I don't know. It's increased my anxiety of going out in the world in case something were to happen. I'm trying not to allow that fear and anxiety impact me but it does. It's so scary to live in existential dread every day. I have so much more empathy for civilians caught in warzones or civil wars or under fascist regimes. I'm so so sorry that this happens to anyone. It makes me more likely to rise up and overthrow the patriarchy given any chance to do so.

I've started expecting to be surveilled and monitored. If not actively, having the data stored somewhere to be called up someday either in aggregate or to identify me personally. I have changed my browsing habits. I don't use Google Maps live in the car unless I really don't know where I'm going. I have even stopped picking my nose in the car lest I get caught by some dashcam, posted, and identified! I think very carefully about what parts of my face and body are visible at protests. As if any of that makes a difference.

I continue to be saddened and frustrated by the actions of my country and the actions of Israel. None of these reflect my values or my beliefs as a citizen or as a Jewish person. The misguided and unprovoked attack on Iran, only adds to my feelings. It leaves me wondering where my country is going, and if we can recover some sensibility before we have totally lost the support of the world and our way in the world. I am hoping that the upcoming midterm elections will bring some relief and hope to myself, my friends, my country and the world in general.

The governance of our country just gets worse and worse. Hopefully, the time of this administration is soon ending and the chaos caused by it in the world can be lessened. He is a psychopathic, self-centered, cruel bully of a man who knows nothing about compassion and how to rule other than trying to bully the world. The world is now responding with laughter and disgust at his attempts to bully them and is starting to band together without us. More power to them.

Climate change has brought hurricanes to our area, which was previously unaffected by them. The increased wildfires, drought, and flooding has wrought havoc on our island.

This was the question Ma Shawn asked me to get me into this thing. I am so lucky that major world event are not as impactful for me as most others; the war in Gaza, Ukraine, America. I truly am so depressed by the fact that I am not able to stop this. The pain and suffering everyone is going through because of the messy, lazy human ideologies. The world is so small, so why does it feel so out of reach at the same time?

I’ve been in Tucson and Madison, but it felt like my heart was in Minnesota for the ICE invasions. David kept a low profile, and was terrified. But friends, even non-activist friends, found a way to help their community- neighbors they’d previously not known. I’m so proud of everyone! My people! We have to continue to stand up everywhere, but Minnesota modeled community and resistance!

The world is rapidly changing. Autocracy is gaining traction. Climate change is accelerating. Food water air land is being poisoned. AI is self aware. I am watching , witnessing and living through the human race destroy the planet and itself along with it. It calls me to embrace “Amor Fati,” love fate. I can do little to change the course of the future. But I do the little that I can anyway. I leave the rest to fate. I am also embracing, “momento morí.” Living as though the only day I have to live is today. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not arrived. I am going to do what I can with what I have for as long as I can. It’s easier said than done. This is a work in progress.

Trying to watch more of the news and pulling from multiple sights and seeing how badly this world is becoming is disheartening. There have been serveral things that have happened but the biggest one is the surveillance and the loss of privacy and then chatting with others, not to try and change their thoughts but to understand how they are good with the loss of their privacy and wrapping my head around the idea that it is just a natural process and no need to be concerned. It is not an arguement with others that are now seeing it the way that I am but more of an argument about how I see it and if I am seeing it through the right lens. The ulitmate fear is to know that everything that I do, even if it was a stupid mistake no longer becomes something that I choose to share but is shared and persists indefinitely, and that scares me. When raising my kids I had a choice in using my life and lessons as a teaching moment or tool at my discretion but now I feel I have to beat the information to my younger family. Now I am only talking about simple things as I do not think I am in jeopardy of any major issues but once you become complicit, things eventually change and you experience when it happens.

the continuing genocide and people's refusal to hold anyone accountable or to even see it, the rolling back on climate change, AI, Trump. Not just one event but multiple. it has made me feel hopeless and dark. I go about my life, but I do fear for he future. I always have such faith that human beings will come back from it as they don't want to die, but now, I'm just not so sure. Honestly - the sky IS falling

A child who I helped raise, and is now 20, has been struggling with severe mental illness this year. It’s been really heartbreaking and I wish that I knew what to do to help. I know that they will heal. They just need time, space, and support to come through this. I know that I need to show them my confidence in them and my love for them by stepping back as well as being available for when they need me. It’s so hard! I really wish I could jump in and save them, even though I rationally know that this is impossible. My heart feels broken, but I also feel hopeful. They are a very strong, magical, and poetic human and they will get through this!

This was my answer last year: 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. And it is now even *worse*. It is very hard to feel optimistic.

Pretty much same as last year, which is pretty sad. I was eloquent with my response last year, but this year I am angrier and more frustrated. The pogroms in the West Bank have also been weighing heavily on my conscience all year, as I have seen videos of this violence and terrorism that’s done in the name of Judaism. What’s been more frustrating is how entrenched in supporting Israel that the rest of my extended family is, and it makes me into some sort of black sheep, but my only transgression is having a conscience about all the murder and terror.

There continues to be a staggering amount of bullshit but in all that, the world cup was hosted here in Seattle. I'm not a sports fan but it was a beautiful thing to see people from all over the world discovering what an amazing place my home city is. I really enjoyed that.

This summer in Chicago has had some crazy weather events: lots of destructive storms, a couple of tornado watches, a couple of days with heavy smoke coming down from Canada (I think), and heat waves. It's mostly been inconvenient to me personally but it's anxiety-producing given the climate change implications.

AI is on my mind. It makes teaching horrific and I fear for the future. It's also just a low level hum of dread under everything. We are in the wrong timeline.

ICE raids in Chicago last summer/fall profoundly bringing fascism to the doorstep, fed helicopters circling while we're at the lake, sizing up every big car with dark windows, meeting people on school patrol.

The US and Israel v IRGC war. It changed me how silent people were for the protests and crackdowns, and it reminded me of 10/7. Once the US and Israel intervened then people had something. The selective outrage infuriates me.

The War in Iran probably pushed us out of England in part, due to the insane rise of prices. I know that the whole world is affected, most especially Iran itself and her people, but it made groceries in London a price I had no idea how to pay. It became totally unsustainable.

An event in the world that changed things for me was the world cup. I didn't know anything about soccer and I had never watched the world cup before. But I saw a beautiful amount of love and respect for different cultures. I saw a willingness to learn and understand that was not present in the media. They called it the "Great American Sleepover." And several countries embraced us. I didn't think that would ever happen considering our president. It shows how much our governments want us to be divided and how beautiful and strong we are. We are stronger together. I didn't know I could experience so much joy from a sport.

The continual assault on immigrants who were welcomed here previously, who are working on their status and who are working and taking care of families is appalling. Ice kidnaps them, when they aren't out and out murdering them, and often deports them to countries they've never even been to, do not speak the language, have no means of support. It's reminiscent of Nazism and it makes me furious! How can our government support this kind of barbarism? What has happened to our country in this short amount of time? How can anyone think Trump a) did a good job the first time; and b) should have another crack at it. What did people think would happen?!!! And they are sticking children in their detention centers, which are just cages?! CHILDREN!!!!!! I pray for God to please intervene, I beg him to please make this stop.

The heatwaves affected my summer a lot. I didn't get to socialise in the garden as often as I wanted to, because I was so drowsy all the time. It also stopped me from going out and making art, and dating and the other things that I prefer to spend energy on. I didn't go outside as much as I wanted - instead of feeling like a joyful holiday, it felt like something I needed to protect myself against, staying indoors with the fan on, staying as cool as I could, being hydrated, resting plenty to handle it. Lost a lot of time to it and it affected me personally a great deal. I don't think it's going to be as bad as that every year, but it does seem like climate change. I haven't even been well enough to properly worry about whether it's possible to reverse it. I've been focused on practical change that governments can do in response, and what disabled people can do to survive the heat - which I know is going to be pertinent for the years to come. We need better infrastructure and systems than the ones we have.

Violence in all creatures in different ways continue to make my heart sore. It makes my will to live and to help others even stronger. But my heart always will go out to those who are suffering no matter, I can't change this about myself and I accept it. When I think about everyone suffering in the world, I want to help. How ever I can, I will try.

oh my god. everything happens so much. our lands are being sold off and destroyed. ICE raids are murdering and disappearing neighbors. Genocide still runs rampant across the globe, and we in the US are contributing to it. The conflict/war with Iran has spiked costs across the board, in addition to these awful tariffs. When will it end?! I worry about the future for our kids.

Honestly, I feel fairly blessed to have lived a relatively isolated life this year, caught up in my own little personal problems. The main thing that comes to mind has been advances in AI that have transformed my workflow and ultimately freed up substantially more time and energy for other people and meaning.

There were so many things that happened politically I don't know where to begin. One that comes to mind is ICE being deployed in different cities and states. Reading the news about what they are doing to a vulnerable population is heartbreaking and enraging. This nation is built on immigrants. To listen to the fear of friends that are afraid to fly and classmates that are afraid to show up to campus is a type of fear that is devastating. Being able to live free of this type of fear is a privilege that all humans deserve.

Not this specific year, but Trump being elected president. He is now in his second year, and has turned the U.S. into a fascist state, isolated US from the rest of the world, and made enemies of all our international friends, INCLUDING Israel. Well, not totally Israel, for Israel seems to adore this monster! I do not understand that!!! Here in the States, we can't afford to feed ourselves families, prices on everything are sky-high, and he is murdering people in the streets. We now have our own Brownshirts, our own Gestapo, our own concentration camps, where people are beaten, starved raped, and medical treatment is being withheld. People are comparing it to what we did to the Japanese in the 1940s. Many, like me, are also comparing it to Nazi Germany. Antisemitism has never been so high. And NYC now has a mayor who is an instigator of violence against Jews, to the point that he is not doing his own job!! I am frightened. We are ALL frightened, and fed up! Americans are ALL frightened and frustrated and fed up and feeling helpless.

Finding out even a bit of the extent of the whole Epstein thing. I'm disgusted and disturbed and completely disillusioned.

The rise in and broad acceptance of antisemitism has been incredibly stressful and terrifying. I hear people saying things and not realizing at all how ignorant they are and how antisemitic they are because it’s just the water they swim in. It worries me that it can be harnessed to cause even more harm to Jews, and that we are a lot more vulnerable than I ever could have imagined. I really thought the days of old school antisemitism and Jewish persecution were over. How naive I was.

The spread of socialism, antisemitism and AI in the US. All have made me very concerned.

Between the Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, US-Iran conflicts it is impossible to focus on anything other than the destruction and human costs of these conflicts. It is inextricably linked to the ultra-right authoritarian regimes in USA, Russia, Israel and places I don't even know about. It is horrifying to think of all the damage and death done by humans, along with that wreaked by Nature. The extreme heat waves this year and the wildfires rampant across the world, along with melting glaciers and earthquakes seems to herald the end of the world. And the governments continue to ignore the steps that are necessary to halt it.

The World Cup this year in North America. I usually do like to watch the World Cup every 4 years but this year was wonderful. I loved watching all the videos people made of discovering how tourists from all over the world were falling in love with America and Mexico. But as an American, I really enjoyed all the fun surprises they had and commented on when touring the U.S. Plus, we had our 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence and the 4th of July was extra special. It was fun to have guests from other countries visiting our grand country.

The war in the Middle East , Israel attacked Iran and the gobshite in the White House is Netanyahu’s pasty .. we are all victims now . The straits of Hormuz are closed .. and fuel prices are soaring !!

The ICE raids and killings have impacted me in numerous ways because I have students that have disappeared students families that were impacted and it’s a general feeling of unease on how our society is going

Well I guess the continuation of Israel / Gaza / Iran / America. That old chestnut. I was sad Starmer stepped down as Prime minister. That was a real shame. I liked his quieter leadership style and felt he got dealt a very raw deal by a lot of loud naysayers.

Seeing the World Cup excitement in Paris (and how the city shut down for Morocco's win) was eye-opening. I think between the size of my town and the scope of my work in an insulated community, I don't often feel global or even local politics.

We live in a polycrisis world, yet people stick to black and white narratives. People perform their morality for others and to just feel good about themselves. Some people shout "free Palestine" like a slogan, without real care for the Palestinian people or deep understating of the situation and with more hate and resentment for Israelis than anything else in their hearts. I refuse to do that. Few people can understand and accept how complex the world is and how imperfect people are. We are all like this, no one is a saint or more pure, in fact clenching to these purist ideals is what causes more harm and division in the world.

Israel, as a government-nation, is still killing Palestinians. There is still no sense of there there, still no solution or vision for a safe future for all. This continues to be divisive for friends, country, and nations. If this is a genocide - which too many say it is to disagree with - then it's been going for nearly 3 years strong. How long does a genocide take? Or did it already happen? Or is the public outcry working to slow the genocide. Modern day Indigenous people on Turtle Island survived a genocide on their land - or was it an attempted genocide since there are survivors? All these years, and I'm still a partial ostrich, head peeking out of the sand. From Wikipedia, "Genocide is the partial or total destruction of a human group, committed intentionally." So, yes - there is/was a genocide against Palestinians, Indigenous people, and other ethno-cultural groups. I am impacted by being in the world, and my psyche is impacted by when I allow myself to be an ostrich.

One event??? The drumbeat of insanity from the Trump administration is always in the background. I try not to foreground it too much in order to protect myself from too much rage and helplessness. I find myself more grateful for the extraordinary advance humankind has made, particularly in science and medicine, perhaps as a counter narrative to the frightening news about advances in warfare and AI. More than ever I try to focus my attention on the small things I can do to make a difference through political and charitable giving and volunteering. It is the only way I know to get through this.

Movement has become more difficult. Internally because I'm tired physically and fearful of change. Exterior movement has been harder due to Trump tariffs and rising petrol prices.

Trump. How is there even anything else. It continues to decrease international support of the US, complicate the US citizens' view of Israel, drive wedges throughout the country... I am hoping and praying the democrats (NOT SOCIALISTS) win the midterms and we can find a path forward that is more centrist.

Yikes, realizing that I am living a bit in my own bubble here. I just get so wrapped up in our life. Keeping Greta safe and happy, navigating the estrangement with my brother and this new rift in my family, keeping our day to day going. I think this is a good reminder to be more aware of a bigger picture.

War with Iran. WOAH --- moving to Israel and 5 days later war breaking out. It was supposed to be my morning to rest after 4 really intesnse weeks of packing, solo parenting, and moving. And then just fear. Not knowing what was happening. Having everyone home all the time. Learning to go out even though I am terrified. Even making it out of the house with both kids, knowing where bomb shelters are - but scared of how to get there fast enough. Learning to talk about sirens and rockets with a 4 year old. Looking out of our porch and welcoming strangers in times of need to our mamad because there is no miklat nearby. It was honestly the scariest, and I have no idea how I will cope if/when it happens again. And even more I have no idea how everyone in Israel has been dealing with this for the past 3+ years. And it all just makes me more scared for the world -- because while this is going on there are more attacks to Jews and the Jewish community globally. So where might be safe?

On the first night of Chanukah I was driving through a storm and listening to the radio. The cricket commentator read an announcement for Sydney listeners who might be planning to head to Bondi, not to go. Police were on the scene. Later it was revealed two gunmen had shot people attending a Chanukah event at Bondi Beach. It could so easily have been us or people we knew. At our next service, there were armed police in front of our synagogue. A week or so later Michael and I attended a concert at St George's College. Over a thousand people, and no security at all. The contrast was very stark.

The populism sweeping the globe is a concerning trend. Although I understand the cyclical nature of geopolitics, this is not a part of the cycle that I care to be a part of. I fear what the rock bottom looks like, but am confident there’s hope at the end of the line.

One world event that has affected me this year is the continued rapid development of artificial intelligence. I find it both exciting and unsettling—not because I think AI is simply good or bad, but because it is changing so quickly that many of us are still figuring out what it means for the way we work, learn, create, and even think. It has affected me personally because I work in education and training, and I can see how AI is changing the way people absorb information and approach their jobs. I’ve also started thinking about AI as a tool for my own writing. That has forced me to become more conscious of something I might otherwise take for granted: what actually sounds like me? That question has become surprisingly important. I don’t want AI to make my writing more polished at the expense of making it less human. I want it to help me think, challenge an idea, find a better connection, or sharpen a joke—but I still want the odd observations, the unexpected detours, and the slightly weird sense of humor to belong to me. In a strange way, AI has made me more interested in my own voice. The better technology becomes at producing competent, polished prose, the more I appreciate writing that contains something harder to manufacture: a particular person noticing a particular thing and having a particular reaction to it. So the impact isn’t simply that AI has changed how I work. It has made me think more deliberately about what parts of my work—and my life—I don’t want outsourced.

It is so horrifying to watch Trump and his cronies take apart our democracy, our free press, and everything we hold dear. I would never have guessed that so many Americans would stand by as unvetted, masked thugs imprison innocent immigrants as they attend court appointments or whisk them away to countries they have no connection to without so much as a hearing. I don’t even know how to make a difference.

I think AI doom and the Very Difficult Job Market. When those two forces converged in February I felt nearly crippling anxiety. That I wouldn't be good enough for a job, that I'd never be healthy enough to have a job (funny to think that now as I sprint around all day), that AI would take all the jobs and there would be a permanent "underclass" of people after the AI boom. ...Most of that seems not to be true. But for a (not so brief) moment there was this intensity of feeling like I'd never be employed again. It still remains to be seen if Artificial Generative Intelligence will exist and supposedly end the human race (as has been claimed over the last few days), or more likely if data centers will simply make life on Earth more uninhabitable, but I at least have tuned out of the discussion. Not like my opinions are going to alter what a couple billionaire m~e~n are going to do.

The War in Iran has increased costs on gas and many other things. It is a senseless war.

It's hard to pick just one. Looking the headlines everyday feels like being in an apocalypse movie. It all blurs together: Trump, wars, underfunded systems failing, people hating Jews, climate collapse. Until recently, until a few weeks ago, in fact, I felt times were bad but that times were often bad across history. The relative peace and stability of the late 20th century was actually the anomaly that made current times seem especially bad. But when the AI researchers gave gave AI a one in ten chance of destroying humanity in the next ten years something in me broke. Especially during this scorching September. That same week they announced they were stopping having limits on power plant emissions. I had been rising above but now I am pretty doomy. It would be almost amusing if I didn't have a child, like amusing in how comically bad it is and amusing in how small the response from the public at least in the US has been. But my child has to live a long time yet in this nightmare timeline. Growing up in all this must be so confusing.

The continued decline of decency (for lack of a more general term), worldwide, has been a heavy weight. War in Iran, Israel's genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, hatefulness in response to that genocide, end-stage capitalism's rape of the globe, the unassailability of openly evil people and their concerns, unrestrained AI... the list is maddeningly long, and seems to be coming to a head. There is no safe place, there is no guarantee of a future. More than ever we are held hostage to the whims of the mighty, and the fears of the ignorant.

There is nothing that has been as impactful - negatively - as Trump. Like the Bull in the China Shop, he tramples and destroys wherever he goes. And put Donald together with Bibi and you have destruction times two. If I read the papers I'm angry. If I don't I feel irresponsible. Life is more expensive and unpredictable than ever.

I haven't stopped thinking about Dolly Parton. Sarah says that Dolly is the best evidence we had of a god, and I think she's right. Immensely talented, funny, accepting, beautiful, humble, and intrinsically motivated to make the world a better place. People's lives are measurably better because of her, and I'm so sad she's gone. She died August 25, and then we lost Duke three days later. My world lost two shiny stars that week.

I think it would be the war with Iraq. After 25 years with are still at war with this country. I feel that mainly it has impacted my wallet and financial well being. Prices are really high and prices keep going up because of events in the middle east. I guess no one really knows what is really happening and are trying to protect themselves.

The absolutely unhinged "surge" (invasion) of Minneapolis-St. Paul by CBP & ICE and the death of several protesters was a real low point of Trump 2.0 so far, as was the pointless war he started with Iran. The only comfort I can take in this is the amazing solidarity and peaceful resistance we saw in Minnesota, and also the fact that both of these events were clear oversteps that (seem to have?) cost him politically. The midterms are coming up in a few months so, that should be clarifying in terms of how much MAGA is a dying movement versus an ongoing threat to democracy.

Just one event? I think calling it "Israel and Iran (and the US)" kind of covers world wide events that impact me. From my personal thoughts about Israel to paying for gas in the car (I'm so glad we have hybrids!) it's been hard. And a world that isn't able to separate a Jewish person from the State of Israel doesn't help. There's nothing specific that has impacted me directly. It's just the world we live in.

All the wars: Ukraine and Russia, US v Iran and commonsense, Israel v the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, the various civil wars in Africa, Trump and his lackeys v democracy and decency, IA v humans. Yes I know that that that is more than one event. The impacts on me and many others: depression (mental and economic), craziness in the air and the internet, survivor guilt, petrol prices,dread. Please pardon my rant.

So many awful things have happened to our society due to Trump and climate. The current one is the horrible flooding in Nepal where I went trekking in 1995. It is horrific, and it is tied to a melting glacier and climate change. I am also appalled on a daily basis by ICE. It makes daily functioning challenging when you think too hard about all the horror.

The continued "rise" of "AI" continues to plague us all. I'm aggravated by how the chatbots have managed to make so many things worse so quickly, and I'm frustrated that they are now trying to push their trillion dollar loss onto the public. Can't wait for the AI bubble to crash my portfolio.

The whole fiasco with the US government and our idiot president has left me dumbfounded. I do not understand how our company could have elected this nutcase!

I was sitting with Gio in the kitchen this (last) morning. I jokingly said the murder of Charlie Kirk. I reflected upon Sapiens story of how, during a courage candle, one of her students said that Charlie Kirk brought her courage, how we laughed and laughed at her recollection of this story. More and more provoking political murders are happening these days. In this vein I am thinking about Brian Thomson and Charlie Kirk and in this vein I am thinking - when is someone going to get the big guy? They tried this year. Anna just reflected that "is trump dead yet?" was included in a letter she wrote for herself her freshman year of highschool for her senior in highschool self. This year ICE decimated Minneapolis where Nissa now lives. There were inspiring mobilizations of collective neighborly action that Nissa (and therefore myself) felt inspired by. I think the event in the world that happened that truthfully had the biggest effect on me was the mayoral election of Zohran Mamdani. A real kernel of hope.

The rise in antisemitism and Jew hatred. It scared me and angers me. There is so much disinformation and things are getting really ugly.

Trump is a mother fucker, destroying all the good and possible in the world. It's devastating for many, destructive for many. And the checks and balances and powers that be are inconsequential. May he die soon. I write this with no anger. I write it like a blessing for all of us.

Help us God…Trump has wreaked havoc on this nation and the world. He is a horrible human being. I can find not a single redeeming factor in favor of the man. He waged a war we cannot win with Iran. He has made gas become outrageously expensive. He has callously allowed grocery prices and housing prices to rise endlessly. He surrounds himself with people who are inept….their power and authority make them dangerous. He is the most corrupt president in our history. Our forever allies are horrified. He tries to change names of oceans, lakes and states at his whim. Doesn’t he have far mor3e important things to do? My prayer - we win the midterms and force him out of office.

Many world events which impact me, it seems, stem from the current administration; my world view and disposition have been adversely impacted by a needless war with Iran, "natural" disasters with roots in climate change, the heartless treatment of immigrants, disdain for environmental and healthcare regulation, which is disdain for all Americans, and widespread greed and profiteering. I find solace in seeking out art and beauty, trying to be tolerant, and trying to live responsibly and VOTE responsibly.

The ongoing turnoul in the Middle East points to the return if Yeshua. Come quickly Lord Jesus come but please have mercy on our loved ones and friends and allow them to be in that number that enters in. I still support Trump but I have been totally dusappointed that he has not done more for SS and Medicare recipiients.

I don't know what's wrong with me here, but I can't pin it down to one event. The profusion of AI, unchecked climate change, and the BS and never-ending war in Iran are some low-lights. Highlights include keeping birthright citizenship (just looked that up, TBH), Minnesota and other cities fighting publicly and sustainedly against ICE, and the emergence of Democratic Socialists. That gives me hope that maybe there will be some change in the stagnation.

Just the ongoing rise in anti-semitism and the toll it takes on all of us. You can disagree with politics and politicians, make a strong argument why a policy makes no sense. But to hold an entire people in the same disregard is simply out of line.

One cultural event that had an unexpected impact on me this year was the 20th anniversary of Madonna’s Confessions on a Dance Floor and the renewed attention around that era of her music. I was 20 when the original album was released, so hearing those songs again twenty years later felt almost like revisiting a younger version of myself. So much has changed since then — where I live, the people around me, and the way I see myself and the world. Music has always had a strong connection to memory for me, and this particular album reminded me how certain songs can stay with us while our lives completely transform around them. It made me feel nostalgic, but also grateful for how much I have experienced and how much I have changed since then.

I think for me it has been navigating the divide between the anti-Zionist and Zionist thinking about Israel. While October 7 is two years ago its ripples are still felt in my life. I have felt less close to lots of folks as I did not feel that talking about the issue would mean hearing an unbiased perspective. It was also hard to track facts and ideas around what was happening and I also struggled because while I think what is happening to Palestinians is absolutely terrible there was not a lot of time and space to learn without a lot of judgmental opinions being thrown around which are not facts and don't really help with understanding.

Our beloved dictator in chief decided that we needed to attack Iran in order to prevent them from having a nuclear weapon. Nobody thinks they have a nuclear weapon. What this does is causes Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, which causes an oil shortage, which causes gas prices to go higher than they've ever been. This causes inflation on everything, because getting supplies anywhere is so difficult due to the cost of diesel. Basically we're all getting screwed by a childish man who thinks he can do anything he wants and his party just continues to let him, while he tramples over the Constitution without a care in the world.

The 25th anniversary of 9/11 for sure. It brought back the horror of that day and its aftermath and was a sharp reminder that we should never forget. It also brought it home how quickly time passes. It doesn't feel like a quarter of a century since I was standing in my little living room in that flat in Auckland watching the news in disbelief. Life is short. Embrace it to the max.

One of my closest friends since childhood is moving out of the country due to the continuing chaos and corruption of the current administration. I know I will probably never see her again in person. It's not feasible for me to emigrate--but if it were, I still might choose to remain and stand with my countrymen against fascism...even though I'm not sure how valuable I'll be in the fight. It's more a matter of principle.

The war with Iran that Trump the idiot boy king started. I’m so angry, annoyed and frustrated with the American people. I cant believe that, after all that happened in his first term - especially Jan 6 - that the majority if Americans would vote him back in. Now the rest of the world had to deal with the decisions of this malignant narcissist. It is true that everything he touches he breaks, i just didn't realize it would mean the world order.

The stupid war in Iran is making life expensive and stressful. It’s harder to visit my family in my home country or to dream about a vacation because plane tickets are so expensive. The whole thing feels hopeless.

The continuing climate crisis is walking with grief, such a sense of loss and hopelessness around that as the world marches on in its heedless ways. All I can do is live as ethically as I am able. Work the garden. Buy with intention. Live local. Vote my conscience.

The first event that comes to mind is the March for Peace by the Buddhist Monks in the USA. Walking for peace and irradiating Metta, benevolence, seems to me a way to saturate space with luminous thoughts that might, in the end, dispel darkness.

at the end of January, the last hostage was returned to Israel b"H!! There were two massive earthquakes: one in Venezuela and one in Colombia. Those happened at the beginning of my time in my new role, and they showed me how the community comes together.

A yearlong series of Trump headlines has cast a pall over things. Megalomaniac moves and desires to make DC a monument to himself are mixed in with his control over one mainstream medium after another. Is there an end in sight?

Trump invading Iran on February 28th. What a mess he's made. Also, his ending TPS for Haitians has affected me, because I work in nursing homes. These facilities are mostly staffed with Haitian nurses and C.N.A.'s, and even Administrators and other staff. Not to mention that it's just morally wrong! Haiti is still unsafe, due to gang activity. And the majority of Haitians are hardworking and bring economic vitality to places like Ohio, so it actually benefits the U.S. for them to be here.

The world is largely on fire with every day feeling like a daily assault on the basic ideas of being here for and with each other. that's the macro level of events in the world. But turn my eyes to the micro -- friends, family, people and places I actually engage with, and it's much more comforting. So, that's where I keep my attention right now.

October 7 continues to impact me. If this had happened when I was 20, free and single, I don't think I would have stayed in the UK I don't like it that I walk amongst people who would happily see my family killed.

It's the same thing that's been going on for years. The Administration is decimating our country and breaking my heart. It's not just one single event. It is the totality of actions that are tearing apart our democracy bit by bit.

Trump is the President and he has made his time in office a joke. Unemployment, high prices, immigration are just a few of the many issues. Canadians rarely shop in the US as border issues and tariffs between the two countries has reached an all time high. Naomi now has four children. What a blessing to have 5 grandchildren. Rafi is a medic as a Sargent with the IDF

The situation in Israel continues to devolve into a greater and greater humanitarian mess. I support Israel but not the government nor its handling of the “situation”. Sort of like living in this country.

The genocide in Gaza and the way so many don't care or even tacitly support it. The fascist and authoritarian political shifts. I feel scared, uncertain, heartbroken.

Antisemitism, Jewish hate, feeling less comfortable in society to be fully my Jewish Self. It worries me, makes me very sad, so disappointed that this still exists. Bring me the future Star Trek Universe!

It’s just tragic that I have to give the same answer this year! And I think the situation is even worse! We have two important elections coming up -midterms here in the US and the Israeli elections. I hope and pray that this time people will vote in a way that we can move forward to a more peaceful and caring world.

I think inflation has had a very negative impact on me. Also Dolly Parton dying hurt more than I could have imagined. You know you're a good person when people mention the tragic death of an eighty-year old.

I feel so insulated from the world in such a sinister way. The illness and the quarantine acts as such a physical and spiritual barrier from the world - keeps it at bay in twisted fashion. I miss the world. I think about the biggest events of the year - from the Winter Olympics to Apollo, Iran and Hungary, the daily insanity in the US - and I feel like I'm looking in through a grainy filter a dirty microscope slide.

And even more Trump we’re now at war with Iran. Gas prices are through the roof tariff fights with Canada. It’s just crazy craziness. I watched too much World War II shit to not see the parallels and I’m scared.

It feels as if there is no world event that has NOT impacted me this year. It's all so awful.

The Trump presidency and the failures of our current government to govern for the sake of the many.

Andy Burnham winning against reform uk in manchester, it gave me hope against the hate that so many feel in the uk at the moment.

I think the non-event of the Cabinet refusal to remove the president. This lack of responsibility of these people to see that this mentally incompetent man to continue to ruin this country.

There were so many I am sure I'm missing some big ones. 1. The release of the last Israeli hostages had a huge positive impact on the Jewish community, although most of the rest of the world hardly noticed. 2. The US and Israeli war on Iran has made our world more expensive, less safe, and led to a sharp increase in anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment. 3. The murder of Rob Reiner was shocking, and so very sad. Suck a waste of a talented person.

I see the meanness, the selfishness, the avarice, the dismissal of other people's humanity -- the evil -- permeate all levels of society, even to the academic world, where civil discourse, diversity of opinion, nuanced dialogue, fair-minded interchange, research, and teaching are supposed to be the norm. But -- from every corner of the political spectrum -- it's just not true any more. I fear for the future.

Это фильм NAZA nezek agavi (сопутствующий ущерб), показанный на венецианском кинофестивале. Фильм об убийствах палестинского гражданского населения. Я не сомневаюсь в документальности, но я сомневаюсь в реакции пубоики. На мой взгляд, не авации здесь нужны, а размышления. Почему убийства и войны остаются самым затягивающим действием на земле. Самым увлекательным. Как кто-то сказал, что легко начать, но невозможно остановить.

Seeing the Bondi attack in Sydney happening when I was in Israel, oh how the turns have tabled. It was shocking to see such blatant antisemitism happening in a place I knew from hangouts with friends, watching from Israel of all places. I used to be in Australia always worrying about Israel, now the opposite was happening. It was quite beautiful however to see everyone's reactions; many texts from old family friends and friends just letting us know that they are horrified that this happened and they are here for us, what sweeties. However another event that I experienced was Karneval in Cologne, a full 5 days of everyone in the city dressing up, YES PLEASE. I had a fantastical time begging for candy and flowers and also going out by myself! It ended up being such a good night and it was reassuring that I could go out like that and be completely fine and have a great night, I really learnt to trust myself.

Liam Ramos, a five year old, being taken in by ice. Renee Good being murdered in cold blood by an Ice agent crystalized the fascist nature of things. Alex Pretti. It's not that things aren't already on that path, it's not that things haven't gotten worse... But these moments really just made it clear. I'm scared about the country that I live in. But I'm also just so exhausted that it's hard to even muster that fear.

Where do begin? The world as we know it is so changed, especially in this country. I feel all the things that so many of us feel - the anger, the fear, the betrayal. Sixth grade civics taught that the "system of checks and balances" between the three branches of government would keep us safe from exactly what is happening right now. So were we lied to all those years ago, or was this all so much more fragile and dependent on the good intentions of the actors in charge? I have a small spark of hope for the midterms, but am fully aware that even if this all changes and sanity once again prevails in the government, it is going to take a LONG TIME to reset the course, and there are some things that I am not sure can ever be righted at this point. I doubt that we will mount a search for all those folks who have been deported and welcome them back to their families or that we will make them whole in any way. The harms that have been done there and elsewhere have been done. The damage to the climate may or may not be reversible. And I think I am not alone in feeling that my trust in government and the good intentions of those in power may be gone forever.

I think the Israel-Palestine conflict, even though it didn't start this year, continues to affect me more than any other. I've seen friendships diminished -- on both sides of the argument -- as a result of it. I've struggled with my own inability to voice my opinion on it, for fear of being "shut down" on social media and elsewhere by the haters, especially since I'm not good at "thinking on my feet," so I can't respond in the moment to their inane claims. I'm so sad to see that people initially staked out their positions on this and that they think that since "progressives" have taken a pro-Palestine stance, that it's the "correct" one. It's so much more nuanced and layered, and I want people to read more in depth, but I know they can't/won't because there are too many other headlines and horrors vying for everyone's attention. It feels futile to try to convince people or educate people on actual facts. I feel ashamed for not speaking up more, but I don't know how to do it in a way that will matter.

My answer is the same... Donald Trump began his presidency and Project 2025. The impact of having someone who lacks integrity, the belief in the American Dream, who is not only a misogynist but also a bully, who has cut programs for the poor, the forgotten, for immigrants that have been here for many years, cutting medicaid, medicare programs, social security, so much restructuring that is not for the benefit of humankind. All of it...There is so much more. I am devastated at the irony of having a president who gives more money to the billionaires and cuts programs for those most in need. Also the cutting disrespect toward the scientific community, the appointing of R Kennedy, the dismantling of the CDC, NIH and other entities. Disregard and respect for universities that have served humanity for much longer than his lifetime. I hurt for America and the freedoms that we have known, the inclusion that we have embraced, the respect that we once had...

The so called ‘trade war’ etc with the US has impacted me on so many levels. From the initial fears of Trump literally sending the army into Canada and/or bringing us to our knees with crippling tariffs to Canada emerging as a reliable, strong country. Trump has done something no Canadian politician has ever done on their own: he has united the vast majority of Canadians and we have the attention of the world as a stable country with much to offer on the international stage. So what does this have to do with me? I’ve been feeling very proud of us. Proud that as Canadian citizens we chose the best leader for these times. Proud that we have not kowtowed to the bully but did try to play fair with him. Proud of our ‘Canadian culture’ which we struggle to define but which is coming into sharper focus. We are peaceful, calm, responsible with our resources, kind, French, Indigenous, English, multicultural, diplomatic, decent people. Strangely there have been times over the last year when I’ve questioned whether we would be able to continue to live safely in Canada as Jews. That fear and that question does still rear its ugly head from time to time. But there’s also been another shift internally. I could never have described myself as a ‘proud’ Canadian in the past but I am. I am a proud Canadian.

I'm trying to be pretty "hands off" of the world this year. Now that I have escaped the US, I don't care what happens there, they can all blow each other up. I just wish they would get rid of the fuhrer. The biggest thing that has impacted me personally is just being out of there.

I enjoyed the World Cup. I'm not a sports person at all, but whenever the world comes together, it feels quite wonderful. We had people from all over the globe come to North America to celebrate their home country pride while simultaneously cooperate together as one people. I really enjoy that.

The takeover of the states by a facist regime has inspired many actions on my past and present and future planning. Including committing to creating a caring alliance that invites people to be a beam team bring their light to dc for a coordinated petition to congressional offices.

Trump's ego every day impacts me and everyone else on this planet. From painting the reflecting pool, ripping out our Rose Garden, tearing out the wing of the White House to build a "ballroom", putting his name on the Kennedy Center, removing people from positions because they won't stand with his needs for supreme power -- to today when he is now angry with his Supreme Court appointees who made certain he could not tamper with our rights as voters: changing mail-in voting regulations to ensure MAGA people will win mid-term elections. No wonder my heart is so heavy.

Donald Trump began a pointless war. People everywhere are affected, some in ways far more devastating. Knowing that, I feel selfish complaining. For me personally, it has cut my income drastically. I am an independent contractor in the tourism industry (Ride Share Driver). I made this my job because I needed flexibility to deal with my daughter’s significant mental healthcare needs. Since the war began, tourism to Hawaii has slowed down so much that it is hard to make ends meet. I work longer hours for less income. In the meantime she has been hospitalized in another state and is improving by leaps and bounds. I want desperately to visit her, but I simply can’t afford to go.

Not just this year, but the last 2+ years, all the horrible things this administration has been doing here and around the world, including stealing/hacking the election and serving illegally, then starting a completely bogus war with Iran, putting innocent people in concentration camps and murdering some, and generally ruining our economy, food supply, laws, rules, safety and security. I HATE THEM ALL. Wish they were all dead, or at least in prison and never serving in office again.

OMG where to begin.

This year in October every last hostage came back and it was a day that I will never forget and was an unbelievable feeling that I still sometimes can’t believe and the mix of emotions was so intense. of course there were so many things after that that I wouldn’t say it created peace in our country or anything like that, but I really felt like a part of the people came back. Everyone is still very torn apart. The government is still shit, but that is one thing I keep close to my heart. Also the war in March between Iran and Israel and the US also had a part of it was a huge deal and we missed a month of school and it was a crazy time that a lot happened socially for me and it was a very interesting time that I think affected me and people my age a lot.

Israel and the US' attacks on Iran. It was scary to watch from abroad as my brother and his family live there. These attacks were accompanied by Jew hatred, which is scary, uncomfortable, and otherwise awful.

The dramatic and unexpected rise in antisemitism and the resulting pressure it put on Jews, who then began infighting about what caused and it how to prevent it. I believe antisemitism is caused by antisemites and will not be cured by Israel’s behavior. It is unconditional hatred.

When the final living hostages from Gaza were released on Oct. 13, 2025. It was bittersweet seeing them finally return. It felt like we could breathe normally again.

Trump continues to be a disaster for all of us

The continued genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing occurring in the West Bank. These impact me deeply and profoundly. Palestinians deserve freedom and dignity and life, full stop. Jews everywhere are not safe without the ensured safety of Palestinians. Both peoples are intimately entwined.

I have tuned out of the national news more than ever - and I haven’t missed it. I hear enough from 10-15 minutes on NPR a day, plus the inescapable soundbites that simply flood anyplace I go outside of my home, that I’m knowledgeable enough to cast my vote. I’m not sure what else I need to know. Weather is helpful if I travel. National tragedies - there’s enough tragedies right here at home. I don’t commute for work, so don’t even need to tune into local news. Sports I can tune into any social media sight at my leisure to get the latest update. Jesus Christ. I’ve been paying attention to the world… for 57 years. I’m tired. I’m going dancing.

25 yrs since 9/11.

I can't remember world events? Authoritarianism continues its march -- ebola traipses around the African continent (CDC troubles) -- there's too little food inspection (FDA troubles) -- No one has bugged Marc to do his 2024 taxes (IRS troubles) -- Ashton's after-school program job budget and his hours got cut (education troubles) -- there's fires and floods and heat -- it all impacts me. And I am incredibly safe and grateful for all that I have -- especially the people I love.

The corporate rush toward AI has not affected me personally yet, but the rollout feels reckless and poorly thought through. Too many companies are staking their growth on AI’s success. Because my stock portfolio is heavily weighted toward tech and I work in the industry, I need to stay cautious and keep a close eye on my investments.

All the events that have been instigated by the president of the United States have impacted me, even personally. Aside from waves of despair that overcome me from time to time, being in an economic war has severely limited my travel to the US. Other than for significant family events (like a 50th wedding anniversary last weekend), we are not traveling to the US. Even our grocery shopping has changed - we are not buying US products. I suppose this can be seen as a personal choice, but when another country starts an economic war with yours, you do as little as possible that might benefit the instigator. The renaming of Lake Ontario (for US purposes only) was the action of a pouting child. For some reason, it's the only decision that triggered real anger in me.

Climate change. Idiot Trump. Anti-semites. 250 America. 25 years post 9/11. Natural disasters. AI becoming more prevalent and people becoming dumber.

This may seem kind of trivial, but Dolly Parton’s death recently really got me. I cried for several days in a row. She was such a shining light in the world, and I just assumed that she would always be with us. It’s just hard for me to imagine a world without Dolly Parton in it. Especially because she was so kind and loving and progressive and it just seems like she was an antidote to all the bad things in the world right now.

When US military bombed an elementary school in Iran (among many other acts of violence) I took that hard and personally as an elementary educator. Just so horrible and stupid and despicable!

The ongoing strife that the present administration wreaks on this country and the world. It is a constant source of anxiety, National embarrassment, and emotionally destabilizing to many. The ongoing dehumanizing havoc being wielded by countries throughout the world who use power, religion, right of inheritance, fame , fortune, and cultural dominance to ethnically cleanse and then blatantly deny it’s apparent objective, to steal land, steal people, steal humanity of their God given gift to exist in peace. Has history not taught us that as we know better we should do better? There is enough for all.

I can't think of much of anything. AI revolution. The growing impact of AI is probably the biggest thing that comes up. Things are changing rapidly. The world is changing rapidly I started using AI for many things, my website was fully built on it - James has been crushing it with AI. Idk, I can't think of anything super tangible that has happened. Hayden Pantierre died which is really sad. Everyone is scared that AI is going to destroy the world. It was wild watching my Dad watch the news and seeeing what is on there, people live in an intense state of mind control

AI has been a huge shift/change. Prior to January, I wasn’t aware of ever having used it intentionally (except Scott’s chatting method on his phone) and suddenly its everywhere and both an essential time saving tool and also a concern and big unknown. It feels like something humans have created and now it is self creating, growing, progressing, changing and all beyond human control or understanding at times.

The world is so unsettling & scary. I pray for my entire family & friends will be safe happy spirits good health! & $$ should be easy on everyone

The liberation of the hostages. It was so swift and sudden, like we woke up in a different reality. It made me hopeful for the future of my country - Ukraine. However, now, the situation seems worse than ever. Somehow every time we think it can't get worse, it somehow gets worse. I want to be hopeful, but I'm also losing hope for the first time...

Seeing black clad men marching on the streets of Britain, galvanised and organised by hate. Having grown in the North of Ireland during the "Troubles" I never thought I would see the same sort of bigotry and hatred on open display in England. I'm also sad and disappointed about the rise of right-wing hatred in Ireland. Some of our people seem to have forgotten their history and their roots, and now make common cause with the Opressor. Sad and troubling times ...

The abject failure of the Kennedy Center under Orange Mussolini’s control is such a tremendous failure to the arts and culture. It may declare bankruptcy this week, which is an unfathomable concept. What the actual fuck was he thinking to consider that his name and influence would make that a better institution? What a narcissistic asshole. I have friends and colleagues that are directly affected by his lunacy, as well as the tremendous stink that he is placing on what used to be an artistic gem. So incredibly sad.

It’s frustrating to not be able to think of anything to put here again, for the third year in a row, besides antisemitism. Last December, there was an attack on Jews in Australia at a Hanukkah party. Many people died. Antisemitism still regularly makes headlines. And all too often, so many people are defending it rather than condemning it. It’s exhausting. On a totally different note, tickets for the LA28 Olympics went on sale this year and I was able to be a part of the presale and score some tickets! It’s still two years away, but I’m very excited to attend!

Wars. Iran, Israel, Sudan. No direct impact, just emotional impact. Sadness. So sorry to see how we hurt each other - kill, rape, starve, ruin. We have better natures than that. Power, fear, discrimination, prejudice. Very sad.

Nothing can affect me the way the death of my son did.

The rising prices due to the war in Iran + rising cost of living in general definitely made me more conscious of my salary and more insecure about my finances. Miami just surpassed NYC as the 2nd most expensive city in the country. I was paying $2.96 for gas before the war, but the cheapest gallon I can find these days is $4.09. While I got a bit of a raise with my promotion at the end of last year, it by no means covers my cost of living. I keep accruing credit card debt trying to afford the basics of my life. It is not sustainable, and the current economic situation was the wake up call I needed to start applying elsewhere.

Again, there are just too many to name. The continued erosion of human rights by our own government. I remain scared for the lives of my daughter and nieces, especially because my nieces live in the the south. I’m scared for my trans friends, my brown and black friends, especially.

I can't think of a specific event, but climate change impacts me. Every time I'm in wilderness I grieve the losses Earth has had and the losses that I know are coming. I cherish and marvel at the trees that haven't been burnt. I feel for the innocent animals and plants that are trying to survive, and I apologize to them for my role in the problem.

All the food and product recalls due to lack of regulation. I feel I've had to monitor what groceries and products I buy much more and it makes me nervous for the future of food safety.

The attack on a synagogue in the Detroit area. I was in the area where it occurred that day which made it seem even more scary. Another reminder of the increase in anti-semitism and how we are not as safe as we may think. Fortunately, I don't worry about my safety on a daily basis, even when attending synagogue events, but another sobering reminder that there are people who hate us for no other reason than we are Jewish.

The warn in Iran is ruining our economy, putting the country in irreparable debt, compromising our global alliances and is destroying our country. At what cost? What are we gaining from this useless war and government?

Everything happening politically has been driving up prices, making my financial insecurity feel even more…insecure. But locally, closer to home, I think it would have to be all of the time I’ve spent in KC this year. JohnEstrada has exhibited some unexpected behavior, buying a bed for me so I can stay with him and tearing up when I left. I also feel like I had an impact on him. He’s much more involved with Broc and he actually listened to me and bought the fancy car he wanted. Who knows whether things like that will continue, but it’s been nice.

It is so frustrating that we are still at war. We seem to have a president that is so very divisive and narcissistic. He renamed the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario to America. He threatened to rename New Mexico to New America. I agree that we need to protect the USA. I get that he wants to increase our independence, but not at the risk of global war. Right now, we seem to be at war with several countries, and I fear that we may be at the verge of a World War. I do know how this ends-Our savior is coming back, and know that it will occur in the Iran/Iraq area. I just never thought it would happen in my lifetime. What is going to happen in the near future? Please, Lord, protect us from this.

Ongoing war in Israel-Gaza. My feelings towards Israel have become even more agnostic if not negative as the Israeli army continues to destroy Gaza in the name of fighting terrorism. This has made much of the Jewish community on edge in the US and in our area and divided many Jews who support Israel (almost blindly in my view). I feel like I cannot really discuss the issue with anyone other than Audrey, Rafi & Julian.

The war in Israel, where Israel is trying to have the Jewish people survive in the herb countries all around us would like us all dead and gone. It is made me very sad that so many people I thought would stand up for me don’t

I feel like we--me, the country, the world--is spiraling down a greased track to the bottom of Inferno. This year included daily destructive acts from the White House and the other infected branches of government, affecting healthcare, alliances, immigrants, the environment, and the sense of fairness vs brute violence as law. AI is outpacing its masters and no controls are being put in place. My heart is heavy and my head full of anxiety every day. At times, I just try to insulate myself against the tide of evil by being with family and playing music.

The horrific detention of immigrants, the sight of masked ICE agents who arrest people without a warrant and disregard the basics of habeus corpus. It is so disturbing and taps into existential fears and family trauma from the Holocaust. It is equally disturbing to know that about a third of my fellow Americans support this abuse. The evil present in humanity chills my spirit.

The deaths of Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem have left me quite sad. We've gone so backwards for women's rights. Who are our feminists icons now? Honestly, there's so much awfulness happening in the world right now it's hard to come up with just one. It's hard not to feel hopeless.

I don't think I noticed much outside my dalet amos this year. Maybe AI improvement. It's changing how I work and I'm getting used to offloading memory for detail, which is already poor, onto it. I love working with AI assistance. It's often frustrating, but it's equally lovely when I can figure out how the things it is excellent at overlap with things I find tedious. And then I can do what I love extra extra fast. It's glorious. We'll see if we survive the AI.

There are so many discouraging and distressing things going on in the world: wars, dramatically advancing climate change, and the proliferation of AI among then. However, what is most frustrating to me are the policies, and words, and behaviors of President Donald Trump. There are so many negative things that he has put in motion that will not be able to be repaired for years to come, if ever.

I have been appalled by the increasing authoritarianism, particularly in this country, but generally across the world. I feel like we are on the precipice of world war 3. Freedoms are eroding in both big and small ways, and I miss the kind of democracy that I grew up in (which unfortunately I don’t think my now adult kids will ever get to experience). I work hard to keep myself informed, but every now and then all the bad news gets to be too much for me and I have to take a break.

Dolly Parton died and I cried. I will try to be more like her: I want more kindness, positivity, and humor. Less gossip, blame, and bitterness.

This question can't go anywhere but the total shit show that is American politics. We have fallen so low as human beings to allow the destruction of decency and democracy. I sometimes feel like checking out of all things political because it's impossible to reconcile what is happening as reality. I'm embarrassed that we've degraded into what we are. But more than that, I'm sincerely afraid of how much worse and for how long it might get. In the best of scenarios, it is going to take Herculean effort to right the wrongs being done. It feels like failure to not be in there grinding away at combating the current regime. It feels like weakness, like they created this mess so people like me would be overwhelmed and give up. So I haven't given up, but I'll admit to pulling back. And I definitely feel shame for it. But I'm mentally exhausted by it.

Ongoing apartheid/occupation of Palestine. I have stepped up involvement with if not now and moved even further left in my politics.

The USA has made some more enemies for life in Iran and Venezuela. My grandchildren will thank us all later.

Honestly world events are so overwhelming that I have almost completely stopped listening to the news. I know where I stand, and I will definitely be voting. I try to respond to the world in my one-on-one sessions with my psychotherapy clients, especially the young folks. I have to believe I’m making a difference to the future and that way - the stuff I can’t control I try to block out.

General rise in antisemitism. Grateful to be part of a thoughtful, genuine, caring jewish community

Trump is still a stupid asshole. He seems to be ruining the world. There’s a war in Iran, which is causing oil prices to rise again. Trump‘s building gaudy things like a victory arch, and a ballroom in the east wing of the White House. The thing that’s affected me the most, is him trying to build a wall through Big Bend! Imagine a wall in front of Santa Elena Canyon cliff walls?! I was reposting all the protests and pleas for help from the locals. I worked at Hogg for a long-term sub for eighth grade English. It was very hard. I enjoyed the money, of course! And it helped me a little bit going to on my Noona’s Nunchi trip to Korea. I went to eight cities on a bus with about 20 other women. It was pretty difficult in many ways, but I was so happy every day! I didn’t feel like I clicked with the women that much. They were all into BTS like little giggly girls. Jeannie and Johnny were so personable and easy to get along with. Their Korean tour manager was named James that I jokingly called my Korean boyfriend. I was taking pictures all the time and kept being last in all of our hikes. It was James‘s job too. Keep the stragglers from getting lost. So I saw a lot of him. It was so frustrating that none of my Korean came out. I seemed to be frozen whenever I tried to talk to James.

Inflation is crazy because of President Trump. There are so many things that he has done that are illegal and/or immoral; I just can't comprehend why he hasn't been held accountable yet. I am hopeful that after the midterm elections things will turn around. Two more years like this will be so harmful to the US that I can barely imagine how we will function as a country.

The ICE surge in Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs. People shot on streets where I walked and drove, armed thugs dragging people from their cars and houses in bitterly cold weather, lurking at school bus stops and threatening bystanders who caught them on video. Each day felt like an existential breaking point as one horror piled on another. My rage turned into something cold, hard, and brutal. I wanted to fight. And then I watched for 2 months as neighbors organized networks and bought food and supplies and delivered them to people who were afraid to leave home. People crowdfunded and sent money from all over to pay rent. Neighbors patrolled sidewalks and schools. One business shut down so its store could be used as a staging area. 50,000 people marched downtown in -10° weather. In the end, what drove ICE out (mostly) wasn't rage. It was love. Love powered that. People didn't go looking for a fight, they went looking for ways to help. I need to remember this.

The world feels fragile right now. I just can’t go there with my acute inner fragility at the moment. But Glen Hansard dying made me really sad. Singing “Fairytale of New York” with him (and hundreds of others) mere feet away in Dublin on Christmas Eve 2023 was a bucket list item to check off for the ages. What a tragedy...

Not much has directly impacted me yet, but the actions of my government continue to occupy headspace and occasionally keep me up at night. ICE has murdered protesters without consequence and deported US citizens without consequence. The president has implemented illegal tariffs causing corporations to raise prices and once the Supreme Court declared the tariffs illegal it's the corporations who are being paid reparations, not consumers, so I guess that's affected me. Everything in the US has gotten worse over the past year but the media continues to treat it as politics-as-usual. The mid-term elections are in 2 months, which I hope will be a wake-up call one way or another. And I still have an unsubmitted application for Canadian birthright citizenship. I don't know what keeps me from finishing it. Maybe knowing that realistically we wouldn't leave the country unless things got truly scary and I don't want to admit that's a possibility but I fear it is.

AI breaking out of its sandbox. My reaction was fear and realisation that we've opened Pandora's box and I don't know how we're going to come back from it. There are tech billionaires who believe that computers are perfection and have forgotten about human beings and our purpose in the world. I have not forgotten about our purpose of making the world a better place. And I will keep sharing that message and teaching other people how to do that.

Trumps ill advised, thoughtless and poorly executed war with Iran. Another example of the implications of electing someone like Trump to the White House. The mounting circus of actions by clowns with no competence is tough to watch and experience. My survival technique is to avoid reading about it as it is so dumb, unfair, revengeful and self-serving. By leaps and bounds the worst leadership we had in my lifetime.

ICE murdering Americans. Nobody is safe from the reign of domestic terror.

Trump continues to be horrible. He's so unhinged. Climate change is unleashed. The flood in Nepal killed maybe 6,000 people. And now AI might kill us? It's overwhelming. I have to focus on my family, my book, and my city.

The illegal war with Iran resulted in escalating inflation forcing everyone to pay substantially higher prices for everything.

My answer from last year could be the same for this year: "The ongoing genocide has impacted me. We all feel the moral injury and the vicarious trauma. There is the added layer that my my father has continued to support the genocide through his various activities." I'm sure there were other major world events, but this is still what sticks out in my mind the most.

The stupid wasteful war in Iran, which seems likely to drag on forever. I am so angry. I continue to write Congress as close to every day as I can manage, and I mention Iran just about every third letter.

Just one? Each big event, whether in the political, environmental, social or financial domain, is interconnected with all the domains. To not acknowledge it that way gives the perpetrators the ability to silo the event to what I call "disaster porn". The media presents it that way and the public sees it that way. If I had to choose one, I'd say Trumps war in Iran has the potential to disrupt and destroy all domains in one go and the world will never recover.

Where, once again, to begin? So much horror in the world. ICE killing Renee Good and Alex Pretty in the streets, as well as all of the others less visible. Ongoing genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the west bank. climate disaster, horrific colorado drought and snowless, warm winter. unbearably hot summer, avoiding outside until last week. spirit weighed down? continued dedication? which horrors am i completely forgetting? how.

The daily assaults perpetrated by that asshole, Trump and those that collude with him. It has torn away at my sense of security, trust in my country and made me very afraid for the future. He is wrecking so much; how will we ever rebuild? Why is he still alive? I feel hopeless and helpless and exhausted.

Tariffs continue to be an issue. Trump is a nightmare. There is now a war in Iran which is, of course, impacting Israel. Quebec election. Name anything

So many choices, from the War in Iran that is driving up gas prices, to the constant lies. I would hope it would have been midterm election results - alas - too early. For me, though it is the rise of ICE. It is chilling - think that is what they want. It reminds me as why I am grateful to be with my partner in Mexico where we both can be legal. But I know others in the US who are undocumented. I worry for them. We have plans on what happens IF. My partner and I went away for a longer trip and had someone look after our house in Mexico. We also had her prepared IN CASE someone we knew was deported. It shouldn't be this difficult. One of my favorite poems in Emma Lazarus - The New Colossus - it reminds me of my family, who, at one point were immigrants in the US and we are grateful for that opportunity. I don't see the US as the Colossus - Rather, I see a growing immigrant population in Mexico, where people from around the world come, not as an entryway into the US, rather as an opportunity to establish life in a country that is growing and its melting pot gives me hope.

I think that rather than a single event, it is the rise in antisemitism that has impacted me the most this year. The way so many people seem to think that all Jews and the State of Israel are one and the same, and that Israel should not be allowed to defend itself has been very hurtful and frightening. To have to have increased the physical security of our synagogue building, having security guards during religious school and at holiday services has made me feel somewhat distrustful of the society I live in.

We got a new Pope this year and the first one from the US! When Pope Francis died, I feel like I was holding my breath hoping that they would pick a Pope who was a little more forward-thinking like Francis and not go backward. I think Pope Leo is going to be more like Francis and he has spoken out against Trump in the past! Which us good because Trump continues to send our country downhill. I couldn't even start to list all the things he's done, but moving the special ed department out of the Dept of Education and into the Dept of HHS is one and starting a stupid war in Iran is another. Every day I grow more and more scared of what he's going to do to us and what things we won't be able to bounce back from.

The Sydney massacre murders of 15 Jews in Bondi beach during last Chanukah celebration was a tragic event, I was in France at the time and suddenly I realised my family could be there as we normally do. Thank God it wasn't , but my fears for years that this will happen became a reality. Sydney is no longer a safe city to be a Jew and I fear this will not be the last time we see these happening. It's a very sad reality and it feels more and more like Jews felt in Germany prior to the holocaust, stay or go and where is it safe?

I guess the rising cost of oil because the faux war in Iran has impacted me? The rising cost of everything because of the tariffs? I am saddened by other world events but I don't think I've been impacted by them. That distresses me.

The sitting president of the USA is making unneeded use of military force around the world. I am a conservative and judge on actions. His are not good for our country.

The west bank:Religious Zionism and Nationalist Views: Many religious Israelis and hilltop settlers view living in the West Bank—historically referred to by its biblical names, Judea and Samaria—as a divine command and fulfillment of covenantal text. Polling shows that a majority of Israeli Jews support maintaining these settlements in any future framework, seeing them as vital for national security and historical continuity. A significant minority of Israelis, including former military generals, intellectuals, and progressive Jewish activists, vocally oppose the occupation. I cannot believe that MY Israel is doing this to the West Bank Palestinians. Where is ethics? Where is morality?

I think the anniversary of 9/11 hit especially hard. I heard so many voicemails and phone calls I'd never heard previously. I think the knowledge of how the world had changed, the heaviness of current events, and how very little is actually different...it all just felt like a deeper grief.

I haven't been keeping close track of events. I know bad stuff is happening and i spend way more on gasoline than food but there's nothing i can do anyway

The exwv more extreme heat and the news headlines that AI credibly may kill us all within 10 years makes me feel scared, shocked, depressed, angry and also wondering how, where, and with whom I want to spend my last decade if I only have that much time. It presses me to co side retiring early and moving to a house near a river and/or lake so I have access to fresh water and a beautiful view for my final breaths.

Not one event, but the whole Trump destruction of democracy, rule of law, more war, dissembling of the history of the US and the addition of Trump memorials and on and on. I am embarrassed by the treatment of brown and black people, of non-citizens, and of citizens. All of this is discouraging for our future and for the future of all of our children. It will take reasonable people decades to return this country to a democracy that follows the Constitution.

Dear Leader foolishly invaded both Venezuela (kidnapping the president and his wife, and supposedly coercing the remaining government to give us all their oil??) and Iran, and now another war with no end in sight. Today (14 Sept) gas in Albuquerque ranged from $4.19 to $4.79 for "regular". Diesel is way over $6/gal. I decided today to get my oil changed asap before the prices hit the quickie oil change place. There have been numerous food-borne illness outbreaks because the CDC and FDA are nonfunctional. Beef prices are hovering around $8-10/lb for cheap burger meat. To ease that price, the government decided to import meat scraps that didn't pass any ag inspections from argentina, brazil, etc (even China wouldn't take that meat) so no more burgers. The current government's malfeasance is still astonishing to me, every single day. Thank god the midterms are coming up and perhaps people are finally going to vote sensibly. The Cult of Trump is still amazingly strong among its adherents, but there seem to be quite a few people now ho are disenchanted with him at last.

The latest impact was the 25 year anniversary of the World Trade Center attack and collapse. It brought back all of those memories. A student whispered for permission to go and call her NY sister who worked in that area (who voted that day and missed the attacks!) I have friends who were there, owned a NY store that sold quickly out of boots and protective gear. He and his wife joined friends for a NJ restaurant dinner that Friday, obviously impacted by all they saw and experienced. I still feel the shock of then walking outside at night and not seeing or hearing airplanes. Another NY law enforcement officer friend was there and in safety two times in an underground garage close to the sight, then worked on the pile. He is still being medically treated for exposure. Each year brings back the horror and heroism. It makes me aware of how fragile our lives are and how all of our safety could vanish quickly.

This year has been wracked by a terrifying drought. To be fair, it's been happening for years, but this year, the effects are especially pronounced. Reservoirs are almost empty. Expected to be empty by year end. Meaning hydropower can't be produced. Trees are dying off fast, and that means more wildfires. It feels like an impossible cycle. And still, our President is eliminating restrictions on things that impact the climate. How is this possible?

The 'war' against Iran. As mentioned in a previous answer, the slide of the democratic party into left wing madness is disheartening, but it has been growing over the years and gained momentum recently. The war against Iran has a definite beginning, at least a hot beginning. Those who side with Iran can rightfully say that the war has been on-going with sanctions and economic actions for a long time. But physical violence, and that may also be a gray area since there have been covert actions throughout the year, maybe Israel, maybe with the US blessing. But dropping bombs is a new chapter. While I am not physically impacted in any way, the economic fallout will impact us all, and I am forced into a cognitively dissonant situation where multiple realities are happening simultaneously. 1. Starting the war now was stupid. 2. Iran is evil and needs to be reformed. 3. If we are to go to war, it needs to be fought better. 4. What are the objectives? How do we know we have achieved them? 5. Those Americans who support Iran's proxies are misguided and don't realize that they would not be tolerated in the societies that they seem to support. I can't truly support the war, but I don't think Iran should exist in its present form. What troubles me is that this a case of no good guys versus bad guys. It is a mess. And I like to simplify issues so I can take a stand.

An event in the world that has impacted me would be the progression of the far right, making women, Jews and all minorities at risk. I believe in a woman's right to choose and that being lost in so many states is upsetting. Add in the rise in anti-semitism and the unlawful deportation of people who live in the US, my heart is heavy when I read the news.

The Israel-Palestine conflict. I am not very up to date on news but it has impacted me the way people view Jews. I think people are slightly anti-semitic subconsciously, by instantly blaming us when really it is the governments fault

Antisemitism in general. As an American Jew, I no longer have a home, here or in Israel or anywhere else. We are on an island and the sea is rising

None outside the day-to-day shifts. Since the future is usually hard to clearly see coming, I would say the nation moving towards the point that I’ll end up in a concentration camp on the basis of religion or political opinions. Note that I am absolutely *not* joking.

Well I’m currently a bit terrified of the concern from AI bosses that AI could kill us all in the next 6-12 months so if I am reading this answer in a year’s time I’ll be happy! In the meantime I might stockpile a few more cans and bottled water. A recent visit to the Secret Nuclear Bunker near me has only intensified this fear!

The killing of Alex Pretti and Renee Good horrified me. I cannot believe that this type of federal-terrorism is happening in this country.

Climate Change

I could talk about the war in Iran which probably everyone is talking about as it is increasing all of our prices and making an unpopular president even less popular. The increasing spread of the GLP1’s like ozempic has hit home with Adam looking and in fact feeling much better. Even maya talked about taking it which really surprised me. But when friends in the neighborhood and family all around you normalise a weight loss drug that appears to be a miracle médecine, it’s not hard to understand it. I’m curious about it and not against it but I do hesitate as we don’t know what the long term effects are yet. I’m guessing Maya will not end up going on it but if she does I won’t be upset.

So many negative events and hardships are being created by the current administration. It appears that decisions are made to hurt the people who need protection most. It's very sad and frustrating since there doesn't seem to be a way to stop this madness. I only hope that my children and grandchildren will be able to find happiness under these circumstances

I'm going to copy my answer from last year because it still fits how I feel: "The current US administration has turned the entire world upside down, or at least shown many of us that our political system was already broken enough that it could easily be ruined. Any hope I may have had at this time last year has been transformed into a hope of survival, for myself and the people I care about. We just hope to make it through. I am not afraid, though, of what may be coming. Fear signals the end, and it's not over yet."

The continuous genocide against Palestine has weighed on my heart for the last three years. Atrocities and war crimes being done in the name of Judaism makes me sick, and I feel utterly powerless to make any change from the other side of the globe. It was a major reason I stopped attending services, as many of my community identify as Zionists. I chose not to take my “Birthright” trip as well during my final year of eligibility. I cannot understand why Jewish people, who have been through such trauma and genocide, could be capable of inflicting the same pain on another community.

The attack on Iran by Donald Trump has disrupted air travel through the Middle East as well as increasing the cost of living all over the world. The world has become less safe for all of us.

Similar to last year the world events are mostly driven by Donald Trump. The war on Iran combined with the tariffs on allies have both driven what looks like the beginning of a massive reshaping of the worldwide political order. A close second are all the moves he has made to undermine what has made this country so successful over the past 100 years. Draconian cuts on research funding, tariffs, the destruction of so much of the civil service, the blatant corruption, the attempts to intimidate the judiciary, and the many attempts to meddle in the midterm elections. The world as I've known it my whole life is crumbling.

Israel's ongoing war in Gaza and rapidly increasing violence/ethnic cleansing in the West Bank continues to pain me to my soul and estrange me from my own culture. (Even to the point of decreasing my motivation to engage with Jewish practice & spirituality--much as I try to resist this.) As the growing pressure mounts from outside of Israel to force the frightened and traumatized population to change their government and policies towards Palestinians--much of which I feel is unfortunately necessary, there is an inevitable increase in ill-conceived tactics that are ineffective, or even counterproductive). Such an effort is taking place in my little community ("simply" an effort to get everyone to post--get this--Stop Genocide signs on our lawns. This is well-meaning on the surface, but--as far as I can see--useless in creating meaningful change, not actually providing any information to those who are honestly (and rightfully) concerned. this is the kind of effort that seems to focus mostly on increasing indignation which swamps understanding and compassion. It's only result, so far, seems to be increasing division in our little community which I worry will only increase antisemitism here--something I have never experiences as a problem before. The division it has caused has made me uncomfortable and distrustful of my neighbors who have weighed in on either side (sides?) of the issue. So the end result is while I'm trying to counter a feeling of estrangement from my Jewish community, I feel more isolated from my non-Jewish neighbors.

Just the same old story of war and stupidity. As ee Cummings wrote: plato told him:he couldn'tbelieve it(jesustold him;hewouldn't believe it)laotsze certainly told him,andgeneral (yes mam) sherman; andeven (believe it or not)you told him:i told him;wetold him(he didn't believe it,no sir)it tooka nipponized bit ofthe old sixthavenueel;in the topof his head:to tellhim [1] (https://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/01/jillyb/plato_told.htm)

Stupid wars that aren’t necessary (as if any war even is necessary) but affect everyone except for the decision makers because they have enough money. But the impact makes everything so much more expensive and since I provide a more luxury service, I feel new clients don’t sign in so easily. Which affects my wallet.

My mitzvah impacted me a lot. It took a lot of time while starting a lot of work a lot of money too why because learning Hebrew takes a lot of time you have to study it.

This summer saw extreme weather - heatwave after heatwave in the UK with temperatures regularly in the mid 30s. Drought, crops struggling, people suffering in the heat. Across Europe and around the world, the shift in the climate is becoming an undeniable reality rather than just a scary abstract idea. I find myself trying to identify things that I can do on a macro scale, but also looking at practical changes from garden crops and planting plans to potential destinations for summer holidays.

I've felt very uplifted by Zohran Mamdani's run as New York mayor - winning the election, the action he's taking... I live in the UK, but it gives me so much hope for progressive politics. On the other side of the coin, the heatwaves we've had here are terrifying. Here's hoping we can turn back the tide.

Tariffs on the Canadian economy have renewed my sense of nationalism and made me consider my purchasing habits more carefully.

The whole cyclospora outbreak in the US has meant that I have eaten almost no lettuce in the past couple of months, and I have been avoiding other things I would normally eat, such as raspberries. I believe the various issues with food safety this year is due to the cutbacks the Trump administration has made for no good reason. Costs are up and quality of life is down.

Any of the antisemitic attacks on synagogues, people, neighbourhoods, vehicles. It has made me feel even more anxious about the world around me and doubts about my future. It has also made me feel more resolved to wear my Judaism with pride. It has made me feel more resolved to defend my right to be who I am and practice my religion proudly.

OMG! The oaf that is in charge of this country continues to f*ck things up. Everyone is tense. We are all so far apart from each other. Politics, politics, politics. I hate it.

Feeling anxious every day during this insane administration. The world feels so dangerous and never know what to expect. Tired of the firehose of horrible news every day

Global Climate Change. We are fortunate to have a home, heat and a.c., and food and everything else we need. We are aware of the changes and can feel them in the overall heat and draught of this summer. Year after year it gets hotter. Growing some vegetables and realizing the difficulties, it blows my mind to think of how those who grow food are suffering and having to make adjustments. How the third world will be most affected by it all, and how insulated “we” can be and not empathize with the rest of the world’s people.

Israel’s existence. The audacity for a country to live, thrive and fight for itself amidst so much hatred and conspiracy. I have friends and family there. It’s a tiny sliver of lands with warmth and history and culture and smell (oh the desert and beach scents!) and yet it’s repeatedly in the news and on the hateful tongues of people who are ill-informed, dumb and spiteful. The resurgence of antisemitism has crescendoed since 10/7. The Jew hatred is pervasive and oppressive. It’s infected my liberal friends, the far right… it’s everywhere. I don’t cry and have panic attacks every day like I did right after 10/7. I’m not in a full depression. But it’s like how I heard “long Covid” described. It’s a low current, always vibrating, always there.

War in Ukraine, ongoing, useless, killing endless innocents children animals voluntary people, I wish I could something to help them and stop this war.

Where to start is how i began my answer to this question last year. Then, I was fearful of what the Trump presidency would do and concerned about wars - in Gaza and Ukraine. This year those fears multiplied as the world watched us desecrate Minneapolis, DC, Chicago and other cities, eject millions of innocent people from our country and wage war on democracy by Trump and his docile and evil sycophants. Not only do I feel helpless, but the sense of Déjà vu is palpable for me having been through all this once before in Germany. Talk about shock and awe. It describes my state of mind perfectly.

Our egotistical president and his maniacal misuse of his powers. It makes me physically ill with anxiety

As time went by with the same President of the US, and especially as the Iran "war" opened up along with the messy world issues, I got more and more annoyed by the amount of countries around the world who wage war on other countries, spent a lot of money to make weapons and use the weapons to KILL people - a saying I have had for years. And it seems that wars will go on - and on - and on. Oh NO!

We’re in the middle of a war with Iran that Trump and Hegseth got us into. I can’t see it ending soon. There’s not just one event though, Trump has wreaked so much havoc and done so many bad things to the people of our country and others… It’s hard to hold on to hope for the future but I keep trying.

I have to say, the rise in antisemitism, which has been happening over the past several years but has been seeming to increase and become very prevalent and not able to be ignored this past year, has been very impactful. I have read a lot about it, thought a lot about it, and wanted to write about it more. I've written a little bit, not much, and I would like to. I just think it's a horrible but interesting phenomenon that has seemingly caught the vast majority of the world in confusion. In some ways it makes sense psychologically in that there are very few Jews and most people don't know a Jew. For a number of reasons it's just easy, essentially, to misunderstand people who you don't know or have any relationship with. Judaism and the Jewish people stand kind of in direct opposition to a lot of the victimhood narratives and power narratives that are prevalent in today's thinking and throughout history. I guess anytime you have a small group of culturally different people in positions of power in different domains of society, it would make sense that there are people who attribute that to pernicious reasons. It would be nice if there's a way to help people better understand that that's not the case but that's been a struggle throughout history.

Having WW2 parents , I had hoped for peace in the world

The outside world pretty much left me alone this year.

The genocide in Gaza is the worst thing Judaism has brought me. A dead end. The need to find myself in another religion. There is no longer any hope of a connection with my Zionist family.

I continue to be troubled - and astounded - by the absolute magnitude of insanity displayed by the people running our country. I can’t believe people still support the crazy and dangerous jerk that’s at the helm. When will we be relieved of this horrible mess?

The war in Iran. Unnecessary loss of life. All the other unnecessary wars and conflicts, mankind’s greed, stupidity and anger is out of control.

Still the presidential election. While it may not affect me on a personal level each day, it's that existential dread on a much larger scale. What will the world be like after a bit more than two years of this.

Donald Trump has turned our economy into the rich and poor, terrible job market, ai killing us in ten years. I'm disillusioned and defeated which is what the man wants. I will resist.

The steep rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments have caused a great deal of fear and anguish. For millennium, the Jewish people have been the scapegoats for the ills of the world. Even though Israel has been a leader in innovations in tech and medicine, she is still vilified as a savage country, uncaring about others. All this goes against our teachings- love your neighbor as yourself; don't do to another what hurts you. I wish others would see the morality in our Torah and Talmud. We're not perfect, but we are not evil incarnate.

Sadly, the world has only gotten worse with respect to my answer from last year. Hopefully the midterm elections will sway the tide of corruption and disregard for human life, let alone justice and equal rights. My dog Jack passed his therapy test, and we are happily visiting patients, and though some days he dos not want to do it, when he does, he is absolutely brilliant.

I'm sad to say that it's still a sad one, still to do with jews and our place in the world and specifically these last few weeks in the politics of the UK. Sanctions. No other country in the world being sanctioned for Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the death of Christians around Africa. No. Only the Jews, all to appease the muslim voters who have MPs that are elected on their policies around Gaza and not the bins or NHS or schools. I am sad, angry, scared and find it hard to see hope. But hope I work hard to maintain. Good people are silent because to be loud brings you pain and the pile on of the bots and terror funded proxy armies. Somewhere sometime I hope the silent majority begin to be safe to rise in our defence that in turn will be the saving of the west from islamic fundamentalism

Oh boy! What a loaded question. What hasn't happened this year that didn't impact me. With the orange monster back in the White House he is making decisions that are destroying our country and doing it with reckless disregard. I am angry, upset, anxious, and still shocked at the depths this monster has gone to in order to make himself and his family richer at the cost of everyone else. Because of my work, I am watching real people struggle to feed themselves and make it through daily living. I live in gratitude for my life where I don't have to struggle financially, emotionally or physically to survive but I am a caring person and I cannot abide by people struggling in a country full of wealth. I am worried for our country and the future. I pray that we can survive the orange monster.

Trump. It's been terrible. Brought the United States into unnecessary wars, killed important scientific research, cut social programs like SNAP, decreased important agencies like the CDC and FDA, appointed unqualified people into important roles, made enemies of our allies, spent money on ridiculous "improvements" to the white house, etc. He and his MAGA cronies are horrible, the US has lost status internationally, and the world is less stable because of Trump.

The rapid rise of AI has impacted me this year. We went from not talking about AI to talking about how AI might kill us all by 2030 in a very short amount of time. How are humans supposed to contend with an ever-present cast of characters that might kill us all? There's no way to process it. I have to put one foot in front of the other and try to focus on what is happening right now. Planning for the long-term future is impossible. Writing that makes me feel sad. What are my kids supposed to do? When I was their age there was an idea of how you were supposed to plan for the future. You were supposed to go to college and then you'd find a job. You could figure it out. Your own survival was what you needed to worry about. Not the survival of humanity, or a livable Earth. I'm really angry with the failures of past generations that have landed us in this spot now. But I have to figure out how to keep going so I can teach my kids how.

I've struggled both with the destruction of Gaza and the egregious behavior of settlers in the West Bank. I'm so overwhelmed by the chipping away of democratic norms in the US that I can barely follow the news. Each day is an assault on all the hard policy and political work that's been done for decades and it's hard to maintain hope, knowing how long it will take to undo and reverse the moves that have been made with wrecklessness and a lack of caring for the disenfranchised. Greed has reigned and the reverberations will be felt worldwide for decades to come.

The rise of AI. Not knowing what is real and what is fake, seeing people I respect use it for basic tasks, the fear of what it’s doing to our brains and environment. It feels so bad so fast and unavoidable.

The relentless onslaught of global and political strife! People acting from places of hate and selfishness. The lack of cooperation, compassion, and care for other humans and the Earth. Two very visible examples are 1. World Hunger and 2. The global immigration crises. There is enough food to feed and nurture every human on the earth. Yet people are starving for food and basic human needs. People in war-torn nations are living in abysmal conditions. Others are packed into camps in unhealthy conditions because no one is willing to make space on the earth for them to have homes. It all sickens me to the point of avoiding the news on a regular basis. I listened briefly this morning, but I've gone days and weeks avoiding the stories and feeling apprehensive every time I'm about to listen or watch.

AI. Both good and bad. I’ve been using it a lot more to understand my health, to reduce time to do tasks to help my creative muse get stuff written down so I can sort it for later. But equally it’s growing exponentially unchecked. Swallowing natural resources and depriving communities of water. When we have global warming destroying everything from lives to livelihoods. How do you balance that?

The AI CEOs wrote there is a 10% chance AI will kill humanity within 10 years. It impacted me by reminding me to live in the moment, to keep my worries in perspective (like can we rebuild post-wildfire, will we be able to afford insurance?). Yet I know there is a selfishness in there, because though I'm still youngish (57) I have lived a full life, and my young adult children deserve to think about bigger things, about a framework beyond a decade. (Also, not much has changed since last year's answer. As an immigration lawyer, I am fighting less in-your-face evils against immigrants, all the more insidious.)

The return of the hostages, when it began in November to when they finally had Ran Gvili's body. I have carried so many prayers for the hostages that now I almost feel empty not doing them anymore. I am so grateful we got everyone back, even though I am enraged not everyone was returned or found alive.

I am concerned with the rapid development of AI. Although there may be benefits, as in the field of medicine, I fear the misuse of the technology.

This year I think a big impact in the world was the death of Gloria Steinem and Dolly Parton. These are two feminist icons, and while I was a bit sad that they passed, I more felt quite hopeful about the next generation. It's amazing when you realize how one person can impact so many lives around them, and those reverberations. We normally don't realize it at the time they are living, but wow both women really changed the lives of women of all backgrounds. I feel like their legacies will live on all of us women still living, and hopefully inspire the next wave of celebrities and activist to provide change and hope to our world.

The rise in antisemitism is alarming and leaves me feeing both angry and anxius.

The country is going down in flames thanks to Sweet Potato Hitler. He is trying to implement tariffs, he has started a war with Iran that was supposed to be over in a few weeks but we are nearly 9 months into it now. Gas prices as of today are $4.19 a gallon which is absolutely ridiculous, grocery prices are even higher than they have been in years. I am spending about $100 a week for groceries and that is if I don't get main things like meat and dry goods. Food recalls are running rampant--thanks to cuts in the FDA and other agencies, there is nobody to make sure the food coming out is safe to eat. It's easier to make a list of foods that are safe than it is to list what isn't--that list would be shorter. There is racism and terror every day--ICE agents are swarming everywhere and stealing people out of their homes and places of work. They have killed several people--civilians trying to de-escalate the situations. The latest in the fuckery that is our administration is that DT has said they will send $5k to each adult in America if the Republicans keep the House & Senate. There are people who are idiotic enough to believe the lie (which is illegal, btw) and will force the vote by any means, including fraud. It is imperative that the Democrats take both in the midterms so they can start the process of ejecting this evil from our government and try to get the nation back on track. We are a laughingstock to the rest of the world.

Almost every day there is something going on in the world that is making me some version of crazy. I've worked hard to calm it down, but it's been a hard year to watch the news.

there are so many events... all terrible. I don't think I'm overstating. It feels really dire out there. Bad leadership is an understatement. The lack of kindness. The inability to grok that two wrongs will never make a right. What kind of country are we leaving for our children? What kind of world?

My separation and divorce, as it’s brought up a lot of grief around the person I became in this marriage, how I gave my power away, and all of the childhood wounds and patterns surfacing in my self reflection and alone time, and in dating again.

the war in Israel has impacted me. Since my son is in Israel and was planning to go this entire past year - fear was stirred up because I was worried he would not be able to go. Yet, he is there safe and protected. It feels like a pilgrimage to get him to Israel which symbolizes so much

Another awful year of Trump. Each day we think it can't get any worse, but it does.

President started a war. So many lies since then about it. I anticipate a huge change in what I took for granted being a proud American. My faith is absolute at this time.

The U.S. ICE detention policies are draconian, illegal and getting worse. I started working with TX ILA to file writs on behalf of people illegally detained by ICE. One of my clients has now been released. I got a scales of justice tattoo over my heart when his order came down. He is one person out of 10s of thousands. But that one person’s life is important.

Inflation has literally been a killer. We can’t afford half the things we usually can. Struggling to make ends meet has been extremely stressful.

The continued situation in Israel. And I mean this in a complex way. My support for the existence of the state of Israel has not wavered, and I've been disturbed that so much (legitimate) criticism of Netanyahu's policies and leadership and the acts of settlers have resulted in anti-semitism or calls for Israel's destruction. It's difficult to be a smart, nuanced person in this debate. I continue to feel that the world (and especially the left) has never properly acknowledged the horror of Oct. 7. But I don't agree with the deaths of civilians in Gaza or the West Bank. I just wonder what it is going to take for everyone--in the middle east and in the US and elsewhere--to recognize that this unending cycle of violence and terror has to end. I don't know if this is what it felt like in Ireland before the peace agreement. I know things have been far from perfect, but compared to the terror and violence of the "troubles" I do think I can say that things are better now. What will it take for us to get to that point? I know that I can't accept any support for Hamas or Hezbollah (I refuse to see them as freedom fighters. They are and always will be terrorists to me, hurting not only Jews but also Palestinians) but who or what can bring these two peoples together and work out a compromise where everyone can live together. We can't undo the past or the bad actions of people on either side. But can't we manage to imagine and construct a new future? I mean, jeez, Germany managed to do it out of the ruins of Hitler and WWII. Why can't we all get our shit together?

I work in news media so it's hard to even know what's happened this year or this month or this week. We are so constantly bombarded with more information and horrors than the human mind can comprehend, and yet it keeps coming. I guess the news cycle has impacted me in that feeling of overwhelm.

The climbing rise of anti semitism. More and more people are leaving london. It’s unbelievable. Britain is falling apart.

AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG Mother FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF It's torture watching everything everyone has worked hard on in the last 50 - 75 years to make this place healthier, more equitable, kinder, smarter get bulldozed down in minutes. Every single day it is worse, another horrible thing happening. And then, the AI business has pretty much put me over the edge. I think about it constantly, riled up and inconsolable. I'm trying so hard to give myself space and distance from it, focus on beauty, nature, art . . . but it's there in my head, and I have an almost constant diatribe going. I have to find another way to handle this reality or I will have a nervous breakdown.

The war in Iran is definitely affecting prices for everything. Makes me all stressed out and edgy too. :(

In the past year, all of the hostages came home to Israel. Not long after the high holy days. I can’t believe that means we’ve been almost a year without that weight hanging over our shoulders, and the pain of their captivity. That means it has been 1,073 since the massacre on Oct 7th. I felt like a piece of me was being held captive for those two years. And some part of me felt a little bit lighter knowing that they were all home. I still recall singing Keren Shemesh by Benai Barabi to honor Sagui Dekel Chen’s return home. And now a new kind of captivity, a feeling like the Jewish community has been fractured by this war. How will we unite as a people again? How will we find a way to agree that loss of any life is never worth it.

An event in the world that has impacted me right now is most likely the war going on in Iran. It has pushed gas prices very high and the stock market and real estate market have been uneasy as a result. Also, our good friend B. is over there fighting as special ops in the Navy and so I am nervous for him. Especially as he has a brand new father.

Just one? AI becoming more dominant in multiple aspects of life with little to no regulation tied with the administration’s tariffs/war combo has made so many things more expensive and has once again affected any shot I have at work stability with my current company. I find it hard to plan for the future when so much of the present is on unstable ground.

This year transitioned from being a closeted conservative to a loud and proud. I spent years supporting Israel privately and avoiding talk about Gaza. When we bombed Iran and all the Persians celebrated in the streets waving Israeli flags. I celebrated too openly for the first time. I went from feeling shame and like I was leading a double life to letting my guard down and being my authentic self.

ZOHRAN'S VICTORY! I have been very involved with JFREJ over the last two years, and this was definitely the biggest victory I have been a part of. I think JFREJ really did play a critical role in navigating the relationship between him and Jewish communities, and not allowing the weaponization of anti-Semitism to be used as a wedge to defeat him The celebration and power in the moment for the social justice orgs and movements in this city was like nothing I have ever experienced, in more than 30 years of political work.

I hope I don't look back at this year and say it's the year my life was impacted because Mamdani became mayor. I'm scared of the increasingly insidious nature of rising antisemitism, and right now, things feel precarious but not awful. If that changes, will we look back at this year and say these kinds of structural realities are the reason why?

Many events are happening and happened...even now, even yesterday. Tomorrow something else will surely happen... I am scared, but grateful. Keeping up with everithing that is happening in this world is difficult and is when someone near you, not by knowledge, but by age and territory, gets into a fatal accident that you realize how everithing and everyone CAN dissapear with a snap of fingers, a wing stroke...

The war in Iran and the increasing anti-semitism in the United States. This war was completely unnecessary, it was ill conceived, prompted by Netanyahu, and has resulted in so many dangerous results: increased anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiments, weakening the United States and middle eastern countries strategically and wreaking economic havoc on the entire world.

The death of both Gloria Steinem and Wendall Berry has left me with a tremendous loss. Both of these people deeply affected my life and the lives of so many others. There are two big holes in my heart.

The release of the hostages triggered an immense wave of psychological and physical release. A few months later came the Iran war. My co-workers were stuck in bomb shelters for weeks on end, with missile impacts all over their neighborhoods. I didn't sleep for weeks, even though I was far away.

The strange thing is how much I feel affected by the terrible actions of my own government, yet how little my life has actually changed. What I'm impacted by is empathy. For all the people who came to this country to work hard only to find themselves in concentration camps or deported to unknown countries, or back to the dangerous places they escaped. For the children who grew up here, knowing no other home, sometimes no other language, and have lost their parents, or are trapped in detention, or shipped to places that are as foreign to them as they would be to me. For Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who lost their lives for no reason at all and there's been no justice. For the dogs and cats and other pets who were left in the wake of their people disappearing. For the government workers who lost their jobs. For the people who were granted asylum but who now live in fear of being deported. For those who are here legally but live in fear because of their skin color or accents. It hasn't affected me directly, but I feel it, the quilt of our society with holes in it, tears, seams ripped apart. I'm sad. I'm outraged. I'm ashamed.

The war in Iran. Gas prices are up. I wish it would end.

I am really distressed with the state of the world in general. It feels like we are going backwards in so many ways. However, probably the most impactful thing for me has been the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Nothing about that situation is okay. Not to mention Isreal bombing Lebannon and influencing the war with Iran. It makes me feel so sad for the world and so helpless. I have given a little money, but that really doesn't feel like much in the face of what is going on. I am not anti-semetic, I am anti Benjamin Netanyahu and anti genocide.

Trump. Because of him and these stupid tariff wars everything is so much more expensive, and there's still the looming worry that he might actually try to invade Canada. That worry was enough to spur me to improve my working out and overall health, just in case, which is a wild thing to be worried about, but here we are.

Bahahhah so cute

The war in Iran, I’m very mindful whenever service members are put in harm’s way. This is very serious. I also believe it’s the right thing, im my opinion Iran can not have a nuclear weapon

Not a new occurrence, but the continuation of the Trump presidency affects me every day. Not in a good way. ICE, the Iran war, tariffs, etc. It’s nearly impossible to avoid the daily onslaught of evil and meanness that is coming out of the White House. Personally, I have been fine. But I’m seeing my country and its reputation and relationships destroyed, as well as the suffering of so many.

Zohran Mamdani was elected as mayor of New York City. Describing himself as a "democratic socialist," he has come out with quite a bit of rhetoric against Israel. It is hard to believe that a city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel could elect a mayor who espouses anti-Israeli points of view. It is a scary omen for whether we Jews will be safe anywhere, if not in New York City. As Mamdani is a democrat, it also makes me question my party affiliation and for what the party stands.

The efforts of the current Administration to physically re-make DC in their own image. Everything they touch turns to shit, or destruction. East Wing. Reflecting Pool. The Arch. The Kennedy Center. The Smithsonian. The Oval Office. The Rose Garden. It makes me angry and sad.

The rise in anti Zionist, anti Israel and antisemitism has made me fearful for my, my family's the Jewish people and Israel's future. The Jews have been made the scapegoat for the world's issues and had to pay a terrible price. Im scared that this will happen to us.

Release of hostages and Iran war, attacks on Israel - I had downloaded the alert app and chose areas where friends lived. I could not be there but wanted to empathize. Realising every day more and more how the strong and corrupt and greedy are gaining power and how the world is in a downward spiral - in particular regarding human rights, democracy and peace.

Israel’s actions have made me feel politically alienated and extremely frustrated and angry

I think as a business person globalism was something I accepted in the 80s. The world is all connected. And I think that covered my eyes about the reality of how different everyone’s experience was and all the stuff going on and how volatile it all was. And so now I could see that more. And I’m more aware of it. And it’s hard to know how to make a difference. And so I have shifted from organizing and leading to being more of a water carrier and somebody who does direct service to help people.

It really is a darker time than I want it to be. The fascism rising, the capitalism late staging, the poverty getting heavier, arts and nature and people of color and women and queers getting trampled more mercilessly. It's odd how I sometimes want to normalize it with my own aging, to say, This is how old people always feel. At times I feel heavily impacted, which can strike fear in me. Other times I am distanced, which is a relief and a burden of guilt at once. I’d like to explore striking a balance in my relationship to community locally and globally.

Trump's attack on Iran with Israel in Feb 2026 seemed to have turned the world against Jews everywhere. This has been a major set-back for Jewish people as anti-semitism raised its ugly head. i personally feel less safe to display my Judaism in public. Trump's actions since the first attacks have greatly amplified these feelings of uncertainty. Prime Minister Netanyahu seems to be further aggravating the issues undertlying this world wide surge of anti-semitism.

The release of the remaining hostages (and eventual release/retrieval of the dead), so that for the first time since 2014, there are absolutely no hostages in Gaza. It signalled the end of the war and a return to something approaching normalcy. It was a return to hope and a closing of a wound that impacted all of the Jewish people, a moment of joy and relief, that I stayed up (and then woke myself up) to witness, even with a major solo drive ahead. Happening just before Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, the release of the living especially, was an appropriate sort of coda to what happened two years ago at that season.

Fears about AI and human extinction. It has been something I have been grappling with and terrified of.

These days, the bad news just feels like a fire hose, coming at me faster than I can emotionally process. I'm still reeling from the destruction the Trump administration has wrought in such a short time. Also, there have been so many antisemitic attacks this year, and the fact that it doesn't horrify me anymore, that it just feels expected now, is what horrifies me more. The antisemitism on the right I'd always expected; but the antisemitism on the left really hurts, since I used to believe better of my fellow liberals. And I feel like AI is just making every aspect of our culture worse, and it feels unstoppable. I'm having a hard time hanging on to hope in a time like this. But I know I need to.

Trump's presidency and the rise of MAGA has shattered me. I used to scoff at the Buddhist concept of emotional detachment, arguing that if you are beyond emotions, are you really living? What's the point of exisiting among humans then? Since my husband's death, after depleting my emotions, I have found myself detaching myself from others perhaps to spare myself from utter destruction. I keep a safe emotional distance from everyone, enjoying time spent with others but feeling nothing at parting nor offense if plans change. I feel buffered from actually feeling, like the walls around me will no longer allow my complete immersion into my life. I will invest emotions into dramas, where it's safe, but take the ups and downs of humans unflinchingly. This current hateful political climate--reminiscent of Hitler's pre-WWII Germany--has given rise to a constant churn of emotional bile inside that I can barely go through the motions of believing this country is salvageable. I rely on my almost-Buddhist emotional detachment (and endless stream of k- and c-dramas) to keep me emotionally even-keel.

The October 7 attacks on innocent people — It has caused so much escalating harm and death and devastation and anger and suffering— it seems there is no end, no peace nor justice to be found for any innocent people.

Everything happening with the current Administration. These Republicans have no honor, no ethics, no morality. I feel a bit like I'm living in a constant state of anxiety, and it makes all the shit I've dealt with this year, including knee replacement surgery and the dementia and death of my mother. The whole world feels like it's going to hell really quickly, and I am not normally a doomsayer.

Trump is ruining our country and the world. I am having trouble feeling hope

The rise of fascism, not only in Europe but especially here in America. The Trump administration and the Project 2025 people have already created enough irreversible damage that we won't be able to come back from it for decades if at all.

Human caused climate change and the lack of habitat for animals is very noticable to me. The world is noticable quieter and it scares me. The tragedies from extreme weather are frequent.

Carney's speech at Davos actually have me hope that the non-American works might take the rise of fascism seriously.

The current political situation in the US (and beyond) is troubling for me. I'm trying to stay informed and stay healthy. I do believe things will get better. Boy does it take a long time, and boy will it take a longer time to repair the damage. The 25th anniversary of September 11th was surreal, sobering, and moving. Time passes. I feel the need to be really clear about what abides, about who I am and how best to curate that.

The change in relationship with the US has saddened me (& often angered too): that people have been voted in who have such disrespect for our connectivity, makes me wonder if we'll ever get on a mutually respectful level ever again 😞

The consequences of the US election still reverberate in our lives, and the fact that the US has begun a war in Iran is distressing. There is a trade war with Canada. The consequences for me personally have not been too great, but I certainly worry about my family’s future, and especially my new granddaughter’s. I was hiking in the Rockies in early August and the consequences of climate change mean there have been more fires and smoky days. This is also discouraging. I am saddened to see plans to build more fossil fuel infrastructure instead of giving more support to green energy sources. I am glad that Canada has been standing up the US and I hope that other countries will do more of the same. I believe the US has many good people who will work hard to counter the forces of fascism there, but it’s still a scary world and time. An unregulated AI industry is also worrisome. Israel’s war crime’s and genocidal acts in Gaza have been appalling and deeply depressing - so has the increase in global anti-Semitism, fueled in part by Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. We are trying to support democracy and civil society in Israel and to educate ourselves and other people as much as we can about the historical context of the conflict, and to counter anti-Semitism.

The escalation of ICE kidnappings and murders, including here in Maine, where they engaged in a racist and brutal practice that they called "Operation Catch of the Day." This has resulted in the murder of at least one person, Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero, and the kidnapping and/or disappearing of so many others, including people here lawfully, people here and employed by government agencies, parents picking up and dropping off their children at school, children, and so many more. The climate of fear that this creates is deeply unjust and wrong. This and the ongoing genocide of Palestinians by the Israeli government and armed forces, the rise of Trump's fascist regime, and unchecked environmental harm is a bitter mix.

Again, much like last year, I try to avoid world events. It is, however, the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and now my son is old enough to want to know about it. So he asked to watch "World Trade Center" with Nicholas Cage the other night. That was depressing and different. We watch the Rookie together, but that is fake/we know it. This was an event that I was present for, and he is just learning about it as a piece of history. It is very new and I don't know how I feel about it yet, or how I will view this event in the future.

The war in Israel and Gaza has affected me and everyone else deeply. I am so sick of it. Seriously sick of it. Why are we killing... anyone? At all? Ever? Why is killing okay for any reason? Who is any human being to take any other human being's life? Seriously. I say the following as a Jew and as a Rabbi. Okay. I think this land is holy. And you think this land is holy. And these other people think this land is holy. So what do we do? We all kill each other because we each want to live there and be "holy" on that land? THIS is what it means to be holy and THIS is what G-d wants? I am so sick of this I cannot tell you. I am completely out of the loop on all things pop culture related. I don't go on Facebook or Instagram anymore except to promote She'arim because I read a book called Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams about what was really going on behind the scenes at Facebook and I realized that all social media really is truly evil. (I already knew this, but this book drove home the point so completely that after that I just couldn't do it anymore.) So I stopped using it. But I went on there yesterday just to do some She'arim/ Mishkan Ha'am stuff and I ran into P!nk's statement about Zionism and a concert by Macklemore. Now, I really don't know who Macklemore is - at all. But, I adore P!nk. Her music, her being, her way of moving through the world is such a doogma to me and gives me such strength by association. I adore her. Her statement was like a balm for my soul. Remember, I don't know exactly what Macklemore did. But her words healed a broken part of me. All of these people who hear that I am a Jew and a Rabbi and a Zionist and then BAM they "know" what I believe. Sometimes they don't even know that much. They just hear Jew. Or they just hear Rabbi. And then they "know." Did they ask me? Have we had a conversation? Am I not a complete human being with a voice and an opinion of my own? Does Zionist not have a more nuanced meaning than that? It does in fact before you start telling me that it is a political position that means blah blah blah. Is Jew the same as supporter of Israel's government? I also happen to have been born and raised in the US and I am NOT as supporter of the US government or its policies of racism and genocide and capitalism that are baked into the system of its government and have been there since day 1. Is that assumed of me since I was born here? P!nk's statement was beautiful, eloquent, filled with the Divine. All these people who say: Yeah Macklemore "dressed up as a rabbi," but that was a few years ago and he apologized. Now it's okay for him to do a Free Palestine concert as long as he has a disclaimer that says this is not anti-Semitic and I love Jews, it's fine. Here's the thing. I AM SICK OF THIS. If Macklemore had dressed up in blackface and pretended to be a Negro or the other N word and then apologized for it, would that be okay? Would he have grown since then and we are required to forgive him? I know the LGBTQ+ community is ALWAYS required to forgive people who are blatantly homophobic like Kevin Hart. They apologize and that means we have automatically forgiven them. And when something is in your face antisemitic, we forgive him because he's grown and it's fine. He said he was sorry after all. So we're all good, why are you people so sensitive? First of all it upsets me to my core that people look at that and say "Macklemore dressed up as a rabbi." Look at ME. THIS IS WHAT A RABBI LOOKS LIKE. That is what a Hassidic Jew looks like. They are not more pious or more religious or better Jews than any other Jews. They just stand out more because they dress differently. That. Is. All. And I want you to get that straight. I spend A LOT of time learning about different people. Different religious groups. Different cultures. I read books. I TALK to people. I educate children about holidays and beliefs. Why? Because THAT is how I believe peace will come to this world. THAT is how I believe we will be able to live out the great Todd Parr's message of "Be who you are" and the Jewish credo, "ltaken olam b'malkut Shadai" to repair the world in the kingdom of the feminine/nurturing/parental aspect of G-d. So let's strive to be holy. Not to kill each other. Not to own land. Just to live together as one (Shema) in peace (b'shalom b'shlaymut) in Jerusalem (ir Shalom). It's not MINE and it's not YOURS. It's our's. We have ALL failed the test spectacularly. Try being holy. TRY IT. We were ALL created b'tzelem Elohim. Breathe in and out because Hashem is the breath and ACT LIKE IT.

Politically everything still sucks. I have seen everything go up. Gas, food, my health insurance increased by like 200% and I have to pay more of my student loans too. Everyone is struggling, but at least a lot more of us are seeing eye to eye about the bs that our political leaders have been up to. Nothing has really changed, but people are more collectively pissed, so I guess that's a start.

There are so many to think about, but the hurricanes in Hawaii resonated especially because we were there just last December. It’s hard to think how these tiny islands and their people will respond, rebuild, and restore the balance in their lives after these disasters.

Oh the coming of AI and all of the stress around that is really getting to me. I can't keep up with the headlines, podcasts, and books, though I try. Are we really approaching the end of humanity or is this all just hype meant to benefit those who want to be in charge (or those who want to aggressively fight other nations pulling ahead) and who is to blame and how did we get here and are we going to lose everything we love because people want shortcuts that aren't really shortcuts at all? Few of us asked for this. Few of us want it. When has humanity ever risked so much for so little?

So many mind blowing events, leaves me somewhat numb. The back and forth of "peace talks" between Iran/Israel US Ukraine/Russia has caused me to just turn away when there is news. It has become "expect the unexpected".

The endless war in and around Israel, in Iran, etc. I did so want to go to Hagai's wedding...

The politics in America is absolutely insane. If Democrats do not get control of House/Senate in November 2026 I truly fear for democracy. The expansion of AI unchecked by govt or it's creators is a true threat to humanity. I wish us luck!

A Democratic Socialist won the mayoral primary in Providence! Seeing my values represented in government gives me greater confidence in our future and in the conversations I can start from these steps forward.

I am feeling completely abandoned by the Democratic party as a Jewish American. It scares me and makes me feel alone. I will not be a one party voter over Israel BUT I will not vote for a candidate that does not make me feel safe as a Jewish American.

The continued and escalating tension around Israel continues to weigh heavily on me. I am loathe to even enter the conversation because it's so complex and there is so much vitriol around it. Recently P!nk got a ton of backlash for expressing her discomfort around Macklemore saying "from the River to the Sea" or whatever he said at his concert. I really liked P!nk's response to the backlash, and then Sarah Tuttle-Singer's response to P!nk's response. Essentially: we can mourn their children and also mourn our own. Why is it that mentioning the Israeli children who were murdered suddenly makes you insensitive to Palestinian pain? That's not right. I was going to share Sarah Tuttle Singer's post today, and then I got caught up in a NYT op-ed (written by a Jewish Israeli) about Israeli settlements in the West Bank and how their actual express purpose is to "eliminate" Palestinian presence in the West Bank through agitation and violence and making their lives untenable there. It's all so messed up, I don't understand how to even converse about it. I do my best in 1-on-1 conversations. But I haven't figured out how to enter any conversation on it more widely. And maybe that's not my job or my place anyway. Maybe I just watch whatever Sharon Brous has to say about it and nod my head vigorously. Unclear.

The 25th anniversary of 9/11. It hit harder than expected. I think I hoped we’d be farther along as a nation and have grown closer. Nothing could be farther from the truth, unfortunately.

The risa of antisemitismo everywhere.

The genocide in Palestine is unbearable, and my community's defense of it is abhorrent. FREE PALESTINE!

Trump’s war on transgender people is affecting me - I’m the mom of a trans person. I fear for my child every day.

Everything going on with Trump's bullshit. It isn't even "Republicans" at this point. There are plenty of Republicans that want Trump out, they're against him. Things have honestly been kind of terrifying. It's stressful with money, and interacting with other people and seeing anything on your feed about the political events happening right now. It's scary to see how divided people still are and how truly corrupt things have become, or I guess how corrupt they've always been. It puts you on edge and makes things feel kind of hopeless and depressing and just... twisted and sickening. Like, why is this fucker still in office? I swear that if he isn't put in check and then impeached (again) and removed from office once the midterms vote rolls around, then we've got a serious problem. But who's to say that he won't fuck with the results of that shit too. Then what a fucking joke the White House's social media has become. AI fucking slop. Dude shits his pants and can't stay awake during meetings, but there he is buffed out and pressing the button to make the world his possession while killing billions of people. For sure, we totally want that idiot as our president. What a fucking joke. Then, it pisses me off seeing people from other countries saying oh well why doesn't the US just do *this*? Like... dude you think we haven't been protesting? Spreading knowledge? Boycotting? All of the works? We can't just not work for months and pretend that that is going to cause the government to change its bullshit. We won't have healthcare insurance, we won't have money for groceries, gas, bills, rent, etc. The government has made sure to keep us under their fucking thumb in such a way that we can't actually impact anything other than by voting and, if we have time between all of our other responsibilities after a 40+ hour work week, maybe we can go protest for a few hours and hope that ICE or the corrupt police division doesn't murder us in the fucking streets while peacefully protesting. And that isn't even including the fact that voting is also a fucked system that doesn't always actually depict the views and desires of the people since there's always that politician middleman. Because why would voting work when those middle politicians can get paid big money for sucking off Big Daddy Trump. Bullshit.

Our world is an absolute dumpster fire but the Iran war has had the biggest impact on our country, the world, our economy. A war no one asked for, that wasn’t authorized by congress, that we’re losing, that’s increasing our cost of living. But our manchild of a president always has to be in a dick swinging contest so while we suffer the consequences.

Oh...please. I don't even know where to start with this one. I feel like every year when I go back and re-read my answers, it's been about the same for the past 10 years. I wake up daily thinking, "Oh...what now?" and then go online to read what a S&*&show it all is. It impacts me deeply. I'm worried for our humanity. I worry for humankind. I worry for the Jewish people and the amount of hate directed toward them right now, when that hate should be directed at elected leaders who are perpetuating horror. And now, AI leaders are speaking out that the real doom day is coming within a decade? It's almost too much. How do we get through this?

Everything. The news is a stream of constant heartbreak, worry and stress. The rise of AI is a threat to our humanity and I do not see our governments organizing to provide the guard rails that are needed.

All of the anti- Semitic protests- it makes me very sad that people are so ignorant and full of hate. I am glad that my father is not here to see this sad reality.

250th birthday of America happened last month it reminded me how great a country we live in. It great thing to see everyone come together for America's birthday.

I genuinely can't think of much. Only thing would be the Burnham Ascendancy. Which makes me worried from a tax and economy POV

There was a futurist lecture in my last week of Cambridge who spoke about the fact that, by his calculation, the world has already reached the Tipping Point of bad things to come. Bad things being worldwide economic instability, gross (disgusting) wealth in equality (we have our first trillionaire in Musk), environmental collapse, and the existential risk AI presents to everything. And it didn't sound futuristic or rabbit-hole ish, it sounded like yes this is happening, there's nothing any of us can materially do (well there is, the world would need to come together like they did with Covid, but that's not going to happen so lets stop pretending it will), and we now need to take the brace position. I suppose I'm part of the first generations being Gen X that hasn't seen world war, and I always assumed we'd collectively learned our lesson. But we haven't, and we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of generations past. So I think the now realisation that the world is going to get worse not better, that my retirement may be harder not easier, and that the changes that are coming are various degrees of horrific is both eye-oopening, and sad. I do still believe in humans and humanity. I believe in Europe and I believe there is still some good to be had. And thankfully we will likely be better off than most given our passports and our financial position, but I've also realised this year that the blinkers are off now - World War 3 or some version of that is heading our way, and there's nothing we can do about it.

I try to avoid watching the s0-called news - the earth is angry. So many earthquakes, floods, volcanos, ocean waves going wild - many thousands dead all over the world then it's on to the next story. SO many wars. Why the world leaders are not fighting back against the Iranian take over is a mystery - didn't they learn anything from history? And who is the "bad" guys? The ones who are defending themselves - Us and Israel. Which is why I HATE the "peace on earth, good will toward men" BULLSHIT. Prayers do nothing... GUNS bring peace! Hope is a waste of time!

As a Russian-speaking Jewish translator living in the Baltics, I'm impacted by: the AI revolution, the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Palestine war.

Well, the orange menace is a damaged human. He is sick, demented (literally) and wants his name on everything; he has profited from being in the position, and the graft and grift are more than ever. He is a vile and weak man. He started a war of choice with Iran and now can't get out of it and has affected the entire world with higher energy prices and all the distruption that makes in the world. No one will hold him accountable. The fucking R senators have abdicated their responsibility to their office and to this country by allowing his behaviour and his actions. And all because they are making money. It's shameful. But shame, irony, hypocrisy, and apparently accountability, are dead. Most recently, he lifted all controls on pollution from power plants. So now we can all die when he dies. How can one man with such an ego affect so many lives on this planet? He has intentionally damaged this country. It's reputation, its deomocray, and its standing in the world as a force for good. The US is now a force for bad. Shameful.

I think now that I’m older 9/11 God that shit was so sad. The story about how that man carried the lady on his back down 60 something stairs, the woman carrying the baby, and the photo of the man falling from the tower. Those stories impacted me deeply this year. I was 5 when it happened and grew up knowing it was a tragedy. Something about this year hit me very hard.

Every year feels like an accelerated rendition of "We Didn't Start the Fire", faster than the year before. The genocide of Palestinian children continues, ostensibly in my name. Our failure to stop it is a stain on our People. The land can never be holy again, not for us. We deserve exile. This high holy day season begins the fourth year of slaughter.

An event that impacted me this year was the invasion of Iran and how blatantly the rule based order has fallen away. I knew it never really existed but this past year all the masks have come off.

Nepal! But .. the world is like a little village to us now and all the bad news filters through. Quite overwhelming.. and therefore important to allow the global good stuff to filter through too. All the events that we hear about seems to highlight that we really need to make the most of each and every simple moment in our lives... I set my intention .. be present and in the moment.

Countless antisemitic events. For example, in April there was an attempted firebombing at my synagogue. Things are getting worse in the UK.

Recuperating from October 7

The Iran War is the most idiotic and frustrating and nerve-wracking thing to happen in the world this year. It had clouded major events like the World Cup, increased prices on food, gas, and other necessities, and made for so much idiotic fodder in the news media. I have been so anxious about terrorism on a large scale and challenged by the mounting costs of daily life. It all feels so dumb and all impulsively done by a lunatic with no care for the people he serves.

The president's strict rules on visa for some countries. My family wont be able to come to my wedding due to this strict visa policy.

The war between Ukraine and Russia made me tremble for my son.

My friend passing away

7:e oktober fortsätter att påverka mig och judarna i Sverige på ett väldigt påtagligt sätt.

The 2026 World Cup was played in the US, Canada and Mexico. After thirty two years of waiting. A month of watching soccer and feeling a sense of hope for humanity seeing all the soccer kits in the streets and all of the celebrations. It proves that there’s more unity than division.

The transphobic new EHRC ‘guidance’ has made me more anxious about using public facilities.