2025 Year in Review—McLaughlin Group Style

Every year since college, my best friend Dan and I have compiled our observations on a wide range of topics that reflect on the year that has just expired. We follow the well-established template of The McLaughlin Group program. (My 2024 column is at this link.) We lost the venerable John McLaughlin in 2016 after decades of shaping how political analysis and debate programs on television should be done.

McLaughlin left a lasting impression on American culture that we still feel today. Steve Deace hosts a popular conservative podcast for The Blaze that routinely utilizes the format of the McLaughlin Group—calling it the Deace Group—that even uses the familiar theme music from McLaughlin's long-running PBS production. At the end of every year, the panelists—two conservative, two liberals, and the host—would give their grades on a variety of news topics throughout the year.

Looking over the IMDB entry for the program, one is struck by the incredible list of influential political and media figures who sat in on the panel over the years—many of whom still hold sway to this day. Figures such as Lawrence O'Donnell, Arianna Huffington, and Jay Carney on the Left to Monica Crowley, Pat Buchanan, and Larry Kudlow on the Right spanned the entire political gamut and packed unmatched insights into a half-hour package each week.

Today's cable news programs don't hold a candle to the intellectual heavyweights that duked it out over the issues of the day on McLaughlin's panel.

Get off my lawn.

Anyway, here now is my take on the year that was, in the style of the McLaughlin Group.

Biggest Winner of the Year: American Energy

As we get rid of the unbelievable waste and fraud in environmental subsidies and the Green New Deal, America has simultaneously spurred a resurgence in nuclear energy. Along with that, we've reinvested significant resources in conventional energy sources, bringing down costs and increasing efficiency for consumers. 

Biggest Loser of the Year: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion. DEI hires bungled security at the Louvre, crashed a helicopter into an airliner full of ice skaters in D.C., utterly failed in the wildfire response in southern California, and couldn’t handle simple questions before the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, corporate America has taken its cue from the Trump backlash and removed many racist hiring policies, opting instead for a refreshing return to meritocracy. Even higher education has backed off some, under threat of losing its federal funding.

Best Politician of the Year: Zohran Mamdani

Despite his myriad and manifest weaknesses, somehow he ended up easily winning the New York City mayoral race. He packaged a nice smile and empty promises to win over immigrant voters and young people hoping for socialist handouts. This award is fleeting, as he's become the proverbial dog who caught the car bumper. Now what?

(INSIGHT FROM THE RIGHT: How to Neutralize Mamdani Democrats’ 2026 Arguments)

The Worst Politician of the Year Award: Blue City Mayors

Karen Bass of LA; Keith Wilson of Portland; Brandon Johnson of Chicago; Vi Lyles of Charlotte; Michelle Wu of Boston. And many others. All have presented themselves as defiant champions of the Trump resistance, to the detriment of the safety and livelihoods of their constituents, and the livability of their cities.

Most Defining Moment of the Year: The Assassination of Charlie Kirk

In the immediate aftermath, the entire world paused. His memorial service was the largest memorial for a private citizen ever held. They had to rent out a football stadium for the in-person event, which drew 100,000 attendees, and it was watched by upwards of 100 million more online. 

(MORE JEFF REYNOLDS: Dear America: Holding Normal Opinions Does Not Make One a Fascist)

Best Spin of the Year: Donald Trump's Claims on Immigration

Under former President Joe Biden, border enforcement actions topped out over 11 million—and those are just the ones we knew about. In the first year of Trump 2.0, that number dropped to under 700,000. The number of immigrants in the U.S. dropped in 2025 for the first time in 50 years, declining by an astonishing 1.4 million in the first six months. The number of foreign-born workers has dropped by 750,000, leading to a rise in average wages for the native-born workforce. 

Most Boring Politician of the Year: Hakeem Jeffries

Has this guy ever had an original thought, or a successful political tactic that effectively stopped the Trump agenda? Never mind finding common ground.

Most Charismatic Politician of the Year: Javier Milei

His small government policies have continued to lead to aggressive economic growth for Argentina, for which the voters rewarded his party with a commanding win in that country's mid-term legislative elections in October. He was also celebrated at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C., audaciously gifting Elon Musk a ceremonial chainsaw to celebrate the accomplishments of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Bummest Rap of the Year: Trump Tarriffs

The world gnashed its teeth with fear that Trump's tariffs would implode our economy, bankrupt the government, start global trade wars, and amount to a massive tax increase on Americans. Every single one of these predictions was exactly wrong. Trump's aggressive moves to stop other nations from screwing the U.S. in trade relationships have directly led to trillions in new investments in our domestic economy and rebalanced our international trade relationships. 

(WHILE WE'RE AT IT: Tariffing Goods? Let's Tariff Immigrants, Too)

Fairest Rap of the Year: The U.S. Bombing ISIS in Nigeria

ISIS needed to be blown up in Nigeria, after wholesale targeted extermination of Christians by radical Islamists.

Best Comeback: The American Economy

As of December, the average national price of gas went under $2.50 a gallon, inflation slowed significantly, and the economy roared back to life—against the predictions of the experts. A robust 4.3% growth rate in the third quarter far exceeded expectations. Consumer spending set new records during the holidays, while exports exploded. Nobody thought Trump's economic policies—including tariffs—would have this immediate an effect, but here we are.

Most Original Thinker: Trump 2.0 Draining the Swamp

The entire Trump 2.0 administration hit the ground running, dismantling USAID, winding down the useless Department of Education, deregulating EPA, empowering the Department of Energy to promote actual energy, using DOGE to uncover over $200 billion in waste in about a month's worth of federal auditing, and the sudden implementation of accountability across federal agencies that led to mass layoffs and resignations in protest. Good riddance!

Most Stagnant Thinker: Fighting FOR The Man 

The geniuses who set fire to Tesla dealerships across the country to protest DOGE. They didn't accomplish anything, they were protesting against cleaning up government fraud, and they followed orders by radical anti-capitalist billionaires. You're not fighting The Man, you are fighting FOR The Man. Dopes.

(EXPOSED: The Radicals Coordinating the $460 Billion Tesla Terror Attacks)

Best Photo Op: Sec. War Hegseth

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressing an arena full of high-ranking military officers to tell them exactly what he means by "rewarriorizing" the armed forces. 

Honorable Mention: Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard engaging in military training exercises. Seeing the 2nd in command train with Navy SEALs helped to make badassery cool again. 

(FROM OUR FOUNDER: Congress' National Defense Plan Misses the Mark. Trump Shouldn't Sign It.)

Worst Photo Op: Two Shocking Killings

This is a tie between Irina Zarutska and Charlie Kirk. Both killings were senseless. Both victims were peacefully going about their lives. Both met violent and sudden ends they didn't deserve. 

Honorable mention: Annunciation Catholic School, Rep. Melissa Horton (D-MN) and her husband, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, New Year's Eve in New Orleans. Too much unhinged, senseless violence ratcheted up chaos and uncertainty in our society.

Enough, Already (also known as the "Shut Up and Get Out Award"): Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) 

Even the leftist Politico calls him the "wannabe leader of the resistance."

Worst Lie of the Year: Government Shutdown Carnage

We're all gonna die—again—because of the government shutdown. This one was notable only because it was the longest in history. The result was the same as every other such event: If the news didn't tell you it was happening, you never would have noticed.

Capitalist of the Year: Elon Musk

Musk is on track to become the world's first trillionaire.

Person of the Year

Charlie Kirk.

Honorable Mention

Dolphins in the Gulf of America, who greeted the SpaceX capsule after it splashed down following a dramatic rescue of American astronauts stranded in the International Space Station. As ships were approaching to extract the astronauts, a pod of dolphins surrounded the floating capsule and gave them their first hero's welcome. 

Destined for Political Stardom: JD Vance

He keeps exceeding expectations, and he's funny to boot.

Destined for Political Oblivion: Jasmine Crockett

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) has a lot of unique qualities, but the ability to become the first Democratic senator from Texas in decades is not among them. 

Destined for the Other Kind of Oblivion: Maxine Waters

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-TX), believe it or not, is not the oldest member of Congress, but she certainly ranks among the most annoying. Time to sign the papers.

Best Political Theater: Trump Goes to the Knesset

President Trump was given a hero's welcome at the Israeli Knesset, delivering a powerful speech as the last remaining living Hamas hostages finally returned home.

(WE HAVE HAMAS AT HOME: Gavin Newsom Promoted a Pro-LGBT General Despite Claims of His Anti-Semitism)

Worst Political Theater: Newark ICE Facility

The Newark mayor and three congresscritters—democrats all—attempted to force their way into an ICE facility, cameras rolling the entire time. It was a badly staged publicity stunt that got the mayor arrested for his troubles. Embarrassing. 

Most Under-reported Story: Nobel Peace Prize

Multiple international figures have nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, after he brokered ceasefires in several hotspots that threatened to engulf entire regions in war.

Most Over-reported Story: Maryland Father

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) met with "Maryland man" Kilmar Abrego Garcia at the maximum security prison in El Salvador after his deportation. Somehow this guy became the face of supposed excesses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite membership in the notorious MS-13 gang, multiple charges of domestic violence, and new charges of human trafficking. Oh, and he's also in the country illegally. That's the guy the entire leftist ecosystem decided to rally around?

Biggest Government Waste: Stacey Abrams

DOGE discovered an eye-popping $2 billion grant to Stacey Abrams' nonprofit organization. 

Best Dollar Spent: The National Guard

The best government money spent in 2025 was used to send the National Guard into blue cities to enforce the laws and keep the peace.

Boldest Political Tactic: B52s to Iran

The destruction of Iran's nuclear weapons facilities—bold and decisive.

Best Idea of the Year: Trump's National Address

President Trump's year-end address highlighted the accomplishments of the first year of Trump 2.0. Not only did he have a long list of items to brag about, he made every mainstream media outlet carry his live primetime address, something they've frequently refused to do. How? By leaking rumors that he would be announcing military action against Venezuela, whipping the anti-Trump forces into a frenzy. He played them like a master conductor directs an orchestra.

Worst Idea of the Year: The Iberian Nightmare

In April, Spain announced that it had gone to 100% renewable energy for its entire national electric grid. Two weeks later, the grid experienced a catastrophic failure, plunging both Spain and its neighbor, Portugal, into a full day blackout. Oops. 

(ONLY ON RESTORATION SPOTLIGHT: Exposing Spain's Grid Collapse & Debunking Climate Myths with Jeff Reynolds)

Sorry to See You Go

Val Kilmer and Gene Hackman. Thanks for the memories, guys. Also, Diane Keaton, one of the most unique performers of the 20th century.

The Kim Jong Il Not Even a Little Bit Sorry to See You Go Award: Iranian Generals

Every single high-ranking Iranian military official taken out by Israel. The world is a safer place without these terrorist masterminds. 

15 Minutes of Fame: Kiss Cam

Andy Byron, the now-former CEO of a company called Astronomy. That's the guy who was featured with the company's HR director on the Kiss Cam at the Coldplay concert, revealing their extramarital affair. At last report he has still not secured new employment. 

Turncoat of the Year: MTG

This one's a layup: Marjorie Taylor Greene, who went from MAGA warrior to former congresswoman, champion of healthcare subsidies, and MSNBC guest.

Most Honest Person of the Year: Greg Gutfeld

Greg Gutfeld gave voice to millions of conservative Americans tired of the media double standards. After years of hearing the mainstream media treat conservatives differently from liberals, Gutfeld exploded the week after Charlie Kirk's murder. On The Five, liberal panelist Jessica Tarlov attempted to say political violence happened on both ends of the political spectrum by citing the murder of Melissa Hortman, to which Gutfeld righteously responded, "Don't play that bullshit with me. What I'm saying is there was no demonization amplification about that woman before she died. It was a specific crime against her by somebody that knew her. Then you'll bring up Josh Shapiro, but you will not bring up that that was a pro-Palestine person. The fact of the matter is the both sides argument not only doesn't fly, we don't care. We don't care about your both sides argument. That shit is dead."

Most Overrated Person, Event, or Story of the Year: Vanity Fair 

The Vanity Fair "exposé" purporting to show Chief of Staff Susie Wiles undermining President Trump. The only thing this report revealed was a stunning lack of judgment in who the administration will approve for media access.

Most Underrated Person, Event, or Story of the Year: American Labor

The return of the American worker, and the massive positive effects of the Trump immigration policies.

Grade the Planet (A through F, pluses and minuses accepted)

If the mainstream media didn't exist, we'd be at about a B-plus, but because of the constant stream of resistance packaged as bad news that bombards us every minute of every day, we're at a solid Z-minus.

Macroprediction

The 2026 Semiquincentennial Celebration of the founding of the United States of America will be celebrated by half the country… and resisted by the other half. Nothing like 1976.

New Year's Resolution

To patriotically celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States of America anyway.

On behalf of everyone at Restoration News, have a wonderful New Year—let's win big in 2026.

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