It’s Thanksgiving week right here in america, and it’s been my annual customized to supply up the issues for which I’m feeling notably grateful. Like final 12 months, nevertheless, feeling grateful isn’t as simple as I’d prefer it to be. To be clear: I’ve been terribly blessed since delivery, and I’m grateful for all of the favorable bounces I’ve had. However in instances like these, when it generally looks as if occasions are spiraling downward and the worst folks have increasingly more energy and are utilizing it simply as badly as you’d count on, it’s particularly essential to take solace in no matter optimistic indicators we are able to discern.
In that spirit, listed here are the highest 10 issues I’m grateful for in 2025.
1: The Gaza Conflict Is Over (for Now).
All respectable folks ought to be grateful that the violence in Gaza has principally ended, some further reduction support is getting in, and there are least discussions happening about attempting to rebuild there. I’m grateful for that, and completely happy to present the Trump administration credit score for displaying that Uncle Sam did in truth have some leverage there. My thanks are tempered by the popularity that the ceasefire is barely holding, and much too many Gazans are nonetheless dying violent deaths. Israeli predations on the West Financial institution are persevering with apace, and we aren’t any nearer to a long-lasting decision to this battle than we had been earlier than Hamas attacked on Oct. 7, 2023. However issues aren’t as terrible as they had been, and that’s purpose for thanks.
2: The Bubble Hasn’t Burst (But).
I’m not an economist, however I do know that market bubbles are solely absolutely evident within the rearview mirror, and no person can inform you ex ante when one will burst. It’s potential that synthetic intelligence and different associated developments will improve productiveness by leaps and bounds and justify the hype and sky-high inventory valuations. That mentioned, there are a whole lot of worrisome indicators on the market in addition to stratospheric price-earnings ratios, together with: the rising function of crypto; the quantity of wealth sloshing round in shadow banks and different poorly regulated monetary establishments; the Trump administration’s all-too-public marketing campaign to politicize the Federal Reserve; and the erratic nature of financial policymaking on the earth’s largest economic system. As a result of a serious financial disaster would immiserate hundreds of thousands of individuals (and never simply due to what would do to many retirement plans), I’m grateful the markets proceed to defy gravity, and I hope that sentence nonetheless holds true by the point this column goes on-line. If the federal government needed to make me really grateful, it will fund the IRS correctly in order that extra folks pay the taxes they really owe and redistribute extra of those current features to the underside 95%. If it wants to boost my taxes to take action, go proper forward—so long as these plutocrats pay their fair proportion too.
3: No New Pandemic.
One other canine that hasn’t barked but is the following pandemic. Provided that we’ve seen not less than two huge ones up to now 40 years (HIV/AIDs and COVID-19) and several other lesser epidemics, one other is for certain to occur finally. It’s good that it has held off for now, as a result of the world (and particularly the Trump administration) is even much less ready this time round than it was again when COVID hit. It’s a really puzzling phenomenon: Mishandling the COVID pandemic helped value Trump the 2020 election (and sure, he did lose honest and sq.). However despite the fact that Operation Warp Pace was arguably his first administration’s single biggest coverage success, Trump is ignoring that achievement, and indulging Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s crackpot concepts about vaccines and public well being—together with letting him halt funding for analysis on mRNA vaccines that would show important to beating the following pandemic. Whenever you sit down round a crowded Thanksgiving desk this 12 months, be grateful that some harmful new virus isn’t forcing us to eat alone or put on masks once more. Fingers crossed!
4: The Trump Administration—Shock, Shock!—Is Incompetent.
In equity, I’m deeply ambivalent about this one. Ideally, I’d like all U.S. presidents and their closest aides to be extremely competent individuals who know the best way to choose fascinating targets, set priorities, construct assist for his or her plans, and implement them successfully. I don’t need america led by individuals who don’t perceive science, are inept prosecutors, create turmoil within the companies they’re supposed to guide, or are deeply corrupt. However when an administration is dedicated to implementing a whole lot of unhealthy concepts and the president is attempting to remove all checks on his energy; showing to name for his political opponents to be executed; enriching himself; and looking out like he desires to hold on to energy indefinitely, then I’m glad to see the wheels coming off. The one factor worse than an incompetent autocrat weakening america could be a extremely expert one pursuing these goals successfully. I’m squinting a bit to see excellent news right here, however proper now I’ll take no matter silver linings I can get.
5: (Most) Different Nations Aren’t Taking Benefit.
Given the disarray and distractions that Trump and his minions have sown within the Protection Division, the intelligence providers, the State Division, and different key overseas coverage establishments, I’ve been pleasantly stunned that different nations haven’t sought to reap the benefits of america’ inept leaders. I imply, do you actually suppose Pete Hegseth or Marco Rubio are as much as dealing with a disaster with a robust adversary, versus going after failed states like Venezuela or unarmed boats within the Caribbean? To be honest, it could possibly be that some potential foes are deterred by considerations about what a famously unpredictable president would do, and a few potential adversaries (like China) are busy coping with their very own issues. However I believe the principle U.S. rivals are completely happy watching america make itself much less common overseas and enacting insurance policies that may depart People much less educated and united at dwelling. They’re following Napoleon’s (supposed) dictum: “By no means interrupt an enemy when they’re making a mistake.” Nonetheless, I’m glad China hasn’t determined to stage a disaster over Taiwan or that Iran has determined to dash for the bomb (so far as we all know).
There are some exceptions right here: Just a few states have taken benefit of america over the previous 12 months, and I’m not grateful for that in any respect. By now, everybody has discovered that Trump could be flattered and bribed, and a few states have the means to do each. Working example: Saudi Arabia is profiting from Trump’s cupidity and getting tons from america whereas providing little in return. I assume MAGA actually stands for “Make Arabia Nice Once more.” However profiting from Trump’s poor deal-making hasn’t led to conflict anyplace, and I suppose one can be pleased about that.
6: A Public Shift on Israel.
As a result of I’ve lengthy believed that it will be higher for america and Israel if the 2 states had a standard relationship reasonably than a “particular” one (that’s, one the place america provides Israel beneficiant and unconditional assist), I’m glad to see the U.S. public embracing that concept as properly. The shift in U.S. public opinion has been breathtaking, and it isn’t prone to be reversed by extra well-funded spin-doctoring by the Israeli authorities or its supporters in america. I’m additionally glad that it’s not a taboo to speak in regards to the political function of the Israel foyer or its detrimental results on U.S. coverage each at dwelling and overseas.
Sadly, that silver lining has been accompanied by a poisonous cloud of real antisemitism, a phenomenon much more deeply entrenched on the political proper than amongst progressives who opposed the Gaza genocide and are defending Palestinian rights. Along with denying the Holocaust and sowing ethnic and spiritual hatred, bigots like Nick Fuentes don’t perceive (or maybe don’t care) that pro-Israel curiosity teams are outlined by their political positions, not by their faith or ethnicity, and that what they’re doing is typical curiosity group politics—even when its results are detrimental. The Israel foyer in america contains Christians, African People, and sure, some U.S. Jews, however its most distinguished critics are an equally numerous lot and contains many U.S. Jews as properly. Thus, antisemites who blame Jews for the errors of U.S. Center East coverage—as a substitute of criticizing the precise people or teams who’ve contributed to those errors—aren’t genuinely taken with advancing U.S. pursuits or selling Center East peace; they’re simply hate-mongering. Even worse, their efforts will make it tougher, not simpler, to assist beleaguered Palestinians or steer U.S. coverage in a extra smart path. Though I’m grateful that debates about U.S. Center East coverage have turn out to be extra open, no smart individual ought to be happy to see the likes of Fuentes profiting from that area to spew their harmful nonsense.
7. Males and Girls of Braveness and Precept.
Loads of highly effective folks and establishments threatened by a predatory president have bent the knee, and most of them now look each craven and short-sighted. They didn’t notice that extortionists not often cease with one demand. Thankfully, extra far-sighted and brave people have stood as much as the bullying and for that I’m grateful. I’m speaking about the college presidents (together with Harvard’s) who perceive what educational freedom means, and former navy officers and authorities officers who blew whistles and/or resigned reasonably than do unlawful or unwise issues. That goes for atypical People defending their streets in locations like Portland, Oregon, but in addition patriotic dissidents all around the world and heroic journalists in harmful locations conserving the remainder of us knowledgeable, typically at nice private threat. For these of us whose worst nightmare could be a nasty ebook assessment, these acts of resolve and precept are awe-inspiring. They’re additionally important to the preservation of liberty the place it nonetheless exists, and to its future existence the place it’s missing.
8: Civic Engagement.
And whereas I’m on the topic, I’ve additionally been heartened by the outpouring of civic engagement over the previous 12 months, sparked by the popularity that U.S. democracy is imperiled and that our present establishments and a few of the politicians inside them are doing a poor job of defending it. Not solely have we seen some stunning electoral outcomes (Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York was not on my bingo card), however we’ve additionally seen massive peaceable demonstrations (just like the “No Kings” rallies), together with artistic efforts to oppose authoritarian overreach by making enjoyable of it (like these protesters in Portland carrying inflatable frog costumes). Turns on the market’s nonetheless some real grassroots power in assist of liberal democracy—exactly the form of civic advantage the Founding Fathers noticed as important. Final November, I had my doubts about whether or not that dedication nonetheless existed, and I’m grateful to have been confirmed fallacious.
9. Writers and Thinkers and Entertainers.
As somebody who’s privileged to benefit from the lifetime of the thoughts (and receives a commission for it), I’m all the time grateful to these writers and thinkers who’ve knowledgeable, impressed, amused, enlightened, and challenged me over the previous 12 months. Right here’s a fast shout-out to a couple of them: Paul Krugman, Jennifer Lind, Henry Farrell, Mustafa Suleyman, Edward Luce, Andrew Preston, Nils Gilman, Monica Duffy Toft and Sidita Kushi, Mark L. Haas, Greg Mitchell, Marc Trachtenberg, David French, and Jessica Valenti, to call only a few.
And since man doesn’t dwell by scholarship and political commentary alone, I’m grateful for these fiction writers who entertained me once I wasn’t working, in books starting from the profound and shifting to the purely enjoyable. A particular hat tip to Abraham Verghese, Curtis Sittenfeld, the late P.D. James, Alison Elspach, Michael Chabon, and the all the time amusing Carl Hiaasen. I acquired a whole lot of pleasure this previous 12 months from the over-performing Crimson Sox (“Simply wait ‘til subsequent 12 months!”), the thrilling rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the possibility to rejoice my birthday at Wimbledon, and extra motion pictures and streaming collection than I ought to admit to watching. (Andor was terrific).
10: On a Private Notice:
A 12 months in the past, I thanked my colleagues on the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, the place I used to be spending an satisfying and productive fall semester. This 12 months, I’m thanking the opposite organizations that supported my newest ebook mission (coming to a bookstore close to you in 2026): the Institute for Worldwide Schooling and the Stand Collectively Basis. A particular because of the dozen students and colleagues who attended a ebook workshop on the manuscript in September and gave me tons of unsparing and intensely useful suggestions. Each author ought to be so fortunate.
And as all the time, my because of all of you who preserve studying this column. Whether or not you agree with me or not, I hope it helps you make clear your personal serious about this vexing world and helps us all make our method towards a extra peaceable and affluent future.
Completely happy Thanksgiving!
