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What Went Right in 2025: Top 25 Good News Stories of the Year (Maria)

The author writes, “Scientists treated the ‘untreatable,’ species came back from the brink, solar surged, deforestation fell, rivers were revitalised, 70 declared ‘the new 60;’ and the smartphone-free childhood caught on, plus more good news in 2025.”

Trump Named in New Epstein Files Published by Justice Department (Sean)

From Time: “The Department of Justice has published thousands more files related to its investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, including a case file that references a rape allegation involving President Donald Trump, as well as correspondence stating that Trump traveled on the convicted sex offender’s private jet ‘many more times than previously had been reported.’ Following the publication of an initial tranche of documents over the weekend, Tuesday’s release included a number of fully redacted files — similar to earlier disclosures that drew sharp criticism for the extent of their redactions. Nearly all of the files made public Tuesday contain at least some redactions, primarily of names and email addresses.”

Neo-Nazi Terror Group Steps Up US Operations as FBI Pulls Back (Mili)

The author writes, “Amid high-profile arrests in its Spanish cell, the American-born and designated neo-Nazi terrorist group the Base — once a major preoccupation of FBI counter-terrorism efforts — has all but faded from US headlines. But a flurry of online activities shows the group is still active stateside and considers the US an operational nerve center. Headed by Rinaldo Nazzaro, an ex-Pentagon contractor turned alleged Russian intelligence asset, the Base has been busy of late pursuing European expansion: besides its heavily armed members in Spain, its Ukrainian wing is linked to multiple acts of terrorism inside the country and claimed the high-profile July assassination of an intelligence officer in Kyiv. But the Base’s online footprint also paints a picture of a more careful, yet active, American presence: videos from November show masked men shooting military-style rifles and pistols in what they claim is an Appalachian forest.”

Peeling Back the Curtain on Big Plastic’s False Solutions (Laura)

From Inside Climate News: “Plastic production has increased exponentially, from about 2 million tons a year in 1950 to 450 million tons a year today, with no limit in sight. And because plastics are made from fossil fuels and thousands of toxic chemicals derived from oil and gas, they cause harm throughout their life cycle, from extraction of the fossil fuels they’re made of to their production, use, and disposal. Low-income communities and people of color who live near plastic plants bear the brunt of the industry’s toxic emissions. … Yet we all inhale and consume hundreds of thousands of microplastics per year. Plastics have become so pervasive that scientists have found them blowing in the wind, near the peak of Mt. Everest, in the snow of Antarctica, in the ocean’s deepest trenches, in placentas, breast milk, stool, blood, lungs, and even in our brains.”

UnitedHealth Reduced Hospitalizations For Nursing Home Seniors. Now It Faces Wrongful Death Claims (Dana)

From The Guardian: “Three nursing home residents died because employees of the American healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group helped delay or deny them critical hospital care, two pending lawsuits and a complaint to state authorities have alleged. The three cases involve a UnitedHealth partnership initiative that places medical staff from the company’s direct care unit, Optum, inside nursing homes to care for residents insured by the company’s insurance arm. UnitedHealth says one of the initiative’s goals is to protect patients by reducing unnecessary hospital admissions. Those are admissions the insurance giant would otherwise have to pay for.”

From Pope Francis to Charlie Kirk, Many Deaths in 2025 Had a Wide Impact (Reader Steve)

The author writes, “The death of Pope Francis brought change to the Catholic Church, which counts 1.4 billion adherents and is now led — for the first time — by an American pope. The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as he spoke before a crowd horrified many and prompted somber conversations about political violence. And when trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre died by suicide, it brought additional scrutiny to the investigations of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. They were among the noteworthy and influential people who died in 2025 where the deaths themselves had a widespread impact.”