This past year opened a lot of intense discussions in response to many political events in 2025, which have allowed fellow bears to understand different perspectives from their peers.
As early as Jan. 15 2025, the United States became involved in the ceasefire of the Israeli-Hamas War. Former President Joe Biden proposed an agreement for Israelis and Palestinians to release their hostages, along with the removal of Israeli military stationed in Gaza, according to AP News.
Then, five days later, Donald Trump was inaugurated as president, which made him the second president in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms.
Later on in April, former Pope Francis died at age 88 due to a serious stroke, and Chicagoan Robert Prevost was elected to take his place a month later; he is the first pope to be from North America, according to Vatican News. So far, he is admired by the vast majority, as the National Catholic Reporter says, only one in ten people does not favor him.
At the end of the summer, Trump initiated an operation called “Midnight Hammer” where America bombed and obliterated Iranian nuclear facilities, which threatened to use their nuclear weapons against the United States.
“Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier,” Trump said, according to BBC News.
Almost two weeks later, on the Fourth of July, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” was passed. This bill makes drastic changes, such as cuts to health care, food assistance, and student loans, to pay for tax cuts to people with a higher status based on financial privileges.
On Sept. 10, American right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at an outdoor campus debate at Utah Valley University. Even months later, his death is still talked about. His death opened a conversation about political violence and freedom of speech.
To sum it all up, the United States’ politics have been eventful to say the least. From the involvement in the end of the Israeli-Hamas War to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, conversations sparked about how these events might ultimately impact our country.
