Released on July 23, the American Eagle jeans campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney sparked controversy for interchanging the word “jeans” with “genes,” emphasizing both the brand’s Fall collection and Sweeney’s conventional ideal body, blond hair, and blue eyes. Many critics claimed that the ad evoked historical narratives linked to genetic superiority, and the public’s backlash was immediate. While the brand issued a statement claiming that their campaign “is and always was about the jeans,” the play on eugenics was indisputable according to many viewers. Supporters argued the interpretation was a stretch, but others asserted that brands operating at a wide cultural scale have a responsibility to anticipate these associations. Ultimately, the backlash revealed the importance of being aware of the implications of claiming superiority over the greater population when marketing. [Elisabeth Lee]

Brainrot has made a huge impact in 2025 and is continuing to do so with a number of vocal stims spreading globally. It’s an overload of hyper-fast phrases designed to hook people’s attention for seconds at a time. Short form videos and phrases on Tiktok such as “6-7” or “the biggest beef steak,” have been flooding feeds and rewiring how people of this generation are consuming information and humor. While brainrot is ironic and mainly a source of humor, the constant stimulation has shortened kids’ attention spans and blurred the lines between entertainment and random noises. This makes it harder to engage in deeper, longer, and meaningful content. What had originally started as a joke has now taken over the generation that is being raised on algorithms, scrolling without meaning, but for the next hit of instant stimulation. [Annika Lim]

Charlie Kirk was a renowned and respected figure who stood strong in mobilizing conservatives and promoting Republicanism across the United States. Unfortunately, his life was cut short, being assassinated because of reasons that “couldn’t be negotiated out.” 22-year-old, Tyler Robinson had interior motives where he later stated, “hate could not be negotiated out.” Kirk’s death immediately became a defining moment in 2025 US politics, spreading a widespread public reaction. The circumstances of his killing intensified existing political divisions, and supporters would remember him as a staunch defender of conservative principles and youth activism. At the same time, critics note that his confrontational style and rhetoric contributed to deepening polarization. In the weeks and months that follow, the legal process against the accused shooter continues to unfold as more debates over free speech remain prominent. [Jessie Lyu]

In early 2025, a funky new snack started trending on social media. Dubai chocolate is a rich milk chocolate bar filled with smooth pistachio cream and a kataifi crunch. This snack became popular after people started sharing videos of them splitting the bar in half and biting down, highlighting the satisfying crunch and unique flavor. Eventually, people learned how to save their money and instead make it at home. They started selling pistachio cream in local grocery stores and publishing simple kataifi recipes online. This trend evolved even further past just the bars, creating many other desserts. Dubai chocolate brownies, cakes, cookies, and even ice cream-filled mochi have recently emerged as well. Although many people are obsessed with the Dubai chocolate craze, others say that it’s overrated and even gross. However, despite this debate, Dubai chocolate still proved to be one of the most popular foods of the year. [Alexa Corpuz]

One of the most controversial yet eminent names mentioned throughout the year was Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X. Musk frequently made headlines on news networks and online forums, all questioning his choices within his leadership, public statements, and global views and positioning. Early in the year, Musk made a significant choice during one of his speeches, with a historical gesture that many interpreted as the Nazi salute, raising concern and criticism against the notable figure. Others believe that Musk had performed a “Roman” salute, yet that theory has no background to support it. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was another controversial initiative aimed at reducing federal waste, ending bureaucracy, and modernizing technology. It faced many legal challenges, leading to Musk leaving his role as head of DOGE. Months later, Musk, as the richest man in the world at a net worth fluctuating between $600 to $750 billion a year, announced new interest in returning to politics, ChatGPT, and other various AI platforms. [Estelle Ignacio]

Following the success of the first movie, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” 2 was released on December 5, picking up the story one year after the events of the previous installment. The movie introduces many new characters while retaining the cast from the previous film. Although rated poorly by critics, its relevance within pop culture and high audience scores made for a gross of over $230 million worldwide. Filled with fan service and homage to the original video games, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has been one of the most successful adaptations, built to be enjoyed by new and old fans alike, and will more than likely evolve into a franchise of movies, just like the original games a decade before. [Jonas Ollano]

On February 9, the body of water bordered by several Northern and Southern American lands, which had previously been labeled the Gulf of Mexico, was renamed the Gulf of America. This action followed Executive Order 14172, signed earlier in the year on January 20 by United States President Donald J. Trump, which ultimately strives, as named, towards “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.” Upon his declaration, President Trump further instituted the date February 9 to be recognized and celebrated as Gulf of America Day. However, what had been an attempt to increase nationalism and American pride instead faced controversy from the public. Many were divided on the name’s effects on diversity, tradition, censorship, and freedom of speech. [Kaylani Hsu]

On February 9, arguably the most well-known sporting event, the Super Bowl, was played in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Besides the game itself, fans and others excitedly awaited halftime, especially for this show in particular, with the headliner being Kendrick Lamar. The hype was real, as after his beef with fellow rapper Drake, Lamar made his new album “GNX” along with other songs, including “Not Like Us.” Kendrick sang some of his more memorable songs, along with the other half being songs from his new album. The show also included a guest appearance from “SZA.” Overall, Lamar was able to gain the attention of the world after his memorable performance. [Camilo Carmona]

Since President Trump was inaugurated to his second term, he has launched one of the biggest deportation campaigns in our country’s history through his use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE’s arrests surged at the beginning of the year, reaching 800 daily, totaling 68,400 by December. These efforts led to 2.5 million citizens being deported, either by self-deportation or by force. Despite these results, many are against his expulsion efforts because of the intense and often “inhumane” tactics used by the ICE agents during these arrests, such as deceptive disguises and heavy force via pepper balls, tackling, and more. There has been more discussion surrounding the cruelty of ICE, as investigations have found more than 170 documented cases of ICE detaining legal United States citizens this year. [Marquez Apodaca]

On April 4, theaters premiered the Minecraft fanbase’s long-awaited movie, “A Minecraft Movie.” A wholesome pursuit of a growing passion for the game turns into a hectic disaster, and it all began with two words: “chicken jockey.” Later in the movie, actor Jack Black, who plays Steve, proudly says the meme when a baby zombie is seen riding the back of a chicken. The phrase led to chaos in the audience, such as shouting, getting out of seats to throw popcorn, climbing onto each other, and even a few cases where someone brought a live chicken into the theatre. Such destruction led to a few theaters banning unaccompanied minors, a surplus of security, and even special screenings. [Olivia Rivera]

The Netflix original movie “KPop Demon Hunters” was released on June 20 and immediately became a global hit, climbing to the number one spot. The cartoon depicts a demon-fighting girl group, Huntrix, comprised of members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, who fight the threatening demon boy bad, the Saja Boys. Pack with action, original songs, including “Golden” and “Soda Pop,” and a fresh representation of Korean culture, “KPop Demon Hunters” broke major records for streaming the most-watched Netflix film ever and reaching #1 on Billboard Hot 100. Praised for its animation and incorporation of Korean mythology and cultural elements, Demon Hunters resonated with international audiences, highlighting the growing global interest in cultural exchange and celebration. [Elisabeth Lee]

A global phenomenon that ravaged through 2025 was the little dolls distributed by Chinese toy retailer Pop Mart, cheekily named “Labubu.” These furry monsters sprang up around spring and have since become a cultural icon around the globe, being at the center of viral collecting trends across social media, most notably TikTok. With its mischievous look, pointy ears, grinny smile, and cartoonish body, countless celebrities such as Lalisa Manobal, better known as Lisa from the group Blackpink, helped launch the Labubu into relevancy. Since the end of 2025, many sources have estimated well over 1 billion US dollars in revenue in Labubu sales alone. [Raymond Aguirre Jr.]

The movie “Marty Supreme” tells the story of a nobody who became somebody with the power of a hollow, plastic ping pong ball. Actor Timothee Chalamet spent months preparing and promoting this movie, inspiring viewers to understand the message of the film as an effort of perseverance while also acknowledging that ignorance does not always mean bliss. Featuring several well-known figures such as TV personality Kevin O’ Leary and artist Tyler, The Creator, this A24 film grossed about $58.4 million globally. Not only was this an opportunity for Chalamet to fully commit to such a passionate character, but his hard work allowed him to win “Best Actor” at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards. [Laila Kumar]

On the platform X, President Donald J. Trump tweeted “long live the king,” somewhat unofficially “crowning” himself as monarch. In reaction to this statement, as well as a plethora of other events, citizens of the United States gathered to protest against what organizers described as authoritarian policies that were being put into place. Although this was only one day of defiance, it became a statement that would represent resistance to tyranny for future generations. Some believe that these protests were violent, while others emphasized how they instilled faith in America as a free country. Nonetheless, it represented how even in moments of discourse, people can be brought together with shared ideals. [Laila Kumar]

Striving to use artificial intelligence (AI) beneficially for society is the AI company and research lab, OpenAI. Founded in 2015 and releasing ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI has firmly established its prominence throughout the past year. Though originally gaining notability from its ChatGPT program, the company offers additional services, such as Codex, to generate code for programming, and Whisper, for speech recognition. As AI dependency continues to grow, students have begun to rely on ChatGPT to complete assignments, forcing teachers to consider how to manage new technology in the classroom. Additional concerns on accuracy, safety, and morality have been raised even outside of educational environments as skepticism and acceptance of AI continue to fluctuate. [Allison Caganap]

The penny has become a symbol of inefficiency in the modern US economy. As inflation rises and cash usage declines, the cost of producing a single penny now exceeds its actual value, making it more expensive to mint than it is worth. Many argue that continuing to produce pennies wastes taxpayer money, slows transactions, and serves little practical purpose in a largely digital financial system. Countries such as Canada have already rid their lowest denomination coins without economic harm. Now, many still have questions about when sentiment should give way to practicality. [Jessie Lyu]

For countless years, fashion has served as a representation of one’s social class and personality. In 2025, that purpose has remained true with the emergence of quarter zips: a simple sweater adorned by a zipper ending a quarter down from the neckline. Though quarter zips have made many fashion appearances throughout the century, this year’s popularity was not only for its athletic or elevated intentions. Countless have consumed this piece of clothing as a humorous stereotype for the “performative” style depicting cleanliness and class. On social media, quarter zips are often compared to Nike Techs, many going as far as relating their contrasts to those of the “Socs” and “Greasers” from the 1967 novel “The Outsiders.” [Kaylani Hsu]

On October 19, Paris, France, captured the attention of the world when it was announced that the Louvre museum was robbed in broad daylight. The two suspects, who were dressed as construction workers, walked into the museum and, using power tools, stole millions of dollars’ worth of precious jewels from long lines of French royalty before escaping using scooters. These jewels included historic tiaras, necklaces, and earrings from the Apollo gallery. People from all around the world took this to the media and mocked the heist suspects for their faulty plan to rob one of the biggest museums in the world. The suspects have since been arrested, but the jewels are yet to be found and returned to their rightful displays. [Madison O’Neill]

After nine years of streaming on Netflix, the well-known show, Stranger Things, concluded its fifth and final season on December 31. This season was split into three parts, concluding with the two-hour-long finale episode, which was displayed in theaters all across the country. This iconic series, which was set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, followed a group of young children and young adults who turned into mini detectives to solve the mysteries of multiple supernatural events that hit their city. The end of the series brought emotions of nostalgia and sadness as much of the audience felt as though they had grown up with the characters that they held so dear to their hearts. [Madison O’Neill]

Famous pop star and songwriter Taylor Swift has found her one true love with football player Travis Kelce. The couple announced their engagement to each other on August 26, and plan to have their wedding on June 13, 2026. Swift and Kelce have been together for over two years, starting their relationship in mid-2023. This has been one of the biggest announcements for fans of Swift, also known as “Swifites,” as she has never a relationship that has led to an engagement. Additionally, fans are not only excited for the wedding but are entirely happy for Swift, knowing that she found the one. [Nicholas Tovmasyan]

Commencing on October 1, the longest U.S. Government Shutdown in history, spanning 43 days, occurred after Congress failed to pass the necessary spending bills by September 30. About 750,000 federal employees went unpaid during these weeks. This period of time had major disruptions in the aviation industry, as a shortage of workers resulted in cancelled flights across the nation, impacting 5 million passengers. Other services impacted were national parks and student aid programs, such as FAFSA. Congress attempted on 14 occasions to pass a resolution and overcome a filibuster, and finally, on November 12, President Donald Trump signed a bill to end the shutdown. This bill ensures agencies are paid until January 30, 2026, and rehires the government workers who were laid off. [Allison Caganap]

The Vatican is a sovereign city-state within Rome that serves as the spiritual and administrative center for the Catholic Church. Following the passing of Pope Francis in April, there was speculation about who the next pope would be. Then, on May 8, Pope Leo XIV was elected. Born and raised in Chicago, Pope Leo is the first American-born Pope and the first Pope from the order of Saint Augustine. He will take over the duties of governing the Vatican and acting as a global moral leader, as well as meeting other world leaders, delivering blessings, and addressing world issues. Pope Leo will be the 267th pope to serve, and the ninth to serve from the Vatican since its establishment in 1929. [Jonas Ollano]

After the long anticipation following the first film about the famous witches of Oz, the second film, “Wicked: For Good,” was released on November 21. For many fans, they have followed the story starting with both the “Wizard of Oz” movie and book, to the Broadway musical, and now to the new films of today. Not only were these films major events for fans, but several memes also branched from them, including the “MM Madame Morrible flip it around Wicked Witch” meme and memes of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande from premieres and other red-carpet events. The film was a great success at the box office and brought joy to all who were anticipating the conclusion of the beautiful story. [Nicholas Tovmasyan]

Throughout the course of 2025, X, formerly known as Twitter, has tackled multiple cybersecurity threats to its users and platforms. In March, the owner of X, Elon Musk, had reported a major cyberattack on the platform, drastically affecting its users. Those who had logged on after the incident had most likely found their data details partially lost. Later in November, a major breach at analytics firm Mixpanel led to outrage for various prominent platforms. Users had been denied the ability to log onto many social media and entertainment sites, including X itself. To this day, X still battles cybersecurity for the sake of their fans, ensuring that the lasting impact is minimal. [Estelle Ignacio]

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was a former Japanese professional baseball player who signed to the Dodgers in late 2023 on a $325 million contract. Since then, he has been a pivotal part of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ success, specifically this past season when he helped the Dodgers win back-to-back championships. During the postseason, he pitched two complete games, including one in the World Series. Infamously, he would start game six for the Dodgers, going six innings and throwing ninety-six pitches in a win. Then, in game seven, when Los Angeles needed hope, Yamamoto would come out of the bullpen and pitch the final two innings, helping the Dodgers win the title. [Camilo Carmona]

On November 26, “Zootopia 2,” the sequel to Disney’s “Zootopia,” hit theaters worldwide. “Zootopia 2” takes place in a modern city filled with different types of animals, where familiar characters face new challenges in an evolving world. Judy Hopps is a hardworking police officer who is determined to protect Justice, while Nick uses his charm and intelligence to solve problems in unexpected ways. When a mystery comes along the way, the two of them team up to fix and help the city. Along the way, they uncover hidden truths, confront prejudice, and learn the importance of understanding others. With humor, action, and meaningful lessons about teamwork and equality, Zooptopia 2 demonstrates the value of teamwork and doing what is right, even when others disagree. [Manushri Patel]