"It was a very bad year. Israel continued its methodical destruction of Gaza, the Taliban increased its suppression of Afghan women, civil war in Sudan killed hundreds of thousands, democracy is on the decline around the world, Elon Musk and Trump did their best to destroy the federal government, ICE rounded up immigrants without due process and often with great violence, RFK Jr. wants to deprive children of life-saving vaccines, and so on and so on."
"To keep me from giving up entirely and spending the rest of my days drunk on the sofa, I subscribe to websites of positive news-Nice News, Goodgoodgood, Good News Network-full of happy stories about medical advances, rescued dogs, and children who give their lemonade-stand earnings to charity. Most people, I tell myself, are good, and sometimes I even believe it. So let's bid the year farewell on a hopeful note. Here are 11 stories to remind us that even 2025 had bright spots."
Global violence, democratic erosion, and political interference marked the year, but several positive developments occurred. The U.S. murder rate fell 20 percent after prior declines, with some cities reaching decades-long lows; Birmingham recorded 49 percent fewer murders and San Francisco its lowest rate since 1942. New York City's congestion pricing charging passenger vehicles $9 to enter midtown reduced traffic, pollution, crashes, injuries, and noise complaints, increased transit use, raised roughly half a billion dollars for MTA capital improvements, and led to greater midtown activity. New York State banned student cell-phone use in schools, joining about eighteen states despite ACLU opposition.
Read at The Nation
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