Year-End Deace Group: 2025 Review with Sara Gonzales & Paul Alexander

Biggest Winners and Losers of 2025

• 🇺🇸 America was named the biggest winner by one panelist, citing the shift from potential "President Cackles" to "adults" like Donald Trump and JD Vance, and a move away from DEI and open borders.
• 💻 Conversely, Big Tech and AI were identified as winners by another, with executives allegedly benefiting from relaxed regulations and government contracts for surveillance programs, at the expense of public privacy.
• 🇺🇸 The United States was also cited as a loser due to the loss of a significant thought leader, Charlie Kirk, whose absence is seen as contributing to division within the conservative movement.
• 🇺🇸 The MAGA movement was also labeled a loser, with criticisms focusing on policy agendas that add to the national debt and a perceived shift away from core conservative principles.

Defining Political Moments and Figures

• 🇺🇸 Charlie Kirk's assassination was repeatedly cited as the most defining political moment, described as the most-watched murder and most impactful Christian martyrdom in history, leading to a significant presentation of the gospel.
• 🇺🇸 JD Vance was frequently named the best politician, praised for his masterful interviews, social media presence, and ability to navigate the current political landscape, with some trusting him on "America First" issues even more than President Trump.
• 🇺🇸 Tulsi Gabbard was sarcastically named best politician by one panelist, highlighting perceived shifts in her political stances and accusations against President Obama.
• 🇺🇸 The Trump administration's border security efforts were lauded as a significant comeback, with border crossings reportedly at their lowest level since 1970.

Stagnation, Lies, and Political Theater

• 🇺🇸 Blaming DEI for everything was called boring and white noise by one panelist, who argued that not every problem can be attributed to DEI programs.
• 🇺🇸 The Epstein files and the handling of their release were called the worst lie and egregious political theater, with accusations of a setup involving influencers and Pam Bondi.
• 🇺🇸 The government shutdown was deemed the worst political theater due to its lack of intensity and clear outcomes, contrasting with past, more impactful shutdowns.
• 🇺🇸 President Trump's Air Force One press conferences were highlighted as the best political theater, offering numerous memorable and often humorous moments.

Underreported Stories and Government Waste

• 🇺🇸 The Supreme Court upholding Tennessee's ban on child mutilation and sterilization in the name of gender-affirming care was cited as an underreported story.
• 🇺🇸 The CIA concluding the lab leak theory as the most likely origin of COVID-19 was highlighted as underreported, especially given past deplatforming for suggesting it.
• 🇺🇸 The Arab countries siding with Israel over Iran was noted as a fascinating and underreported geopolitical shift.
• 🇺🇸 Every dollar spent on Ukraine was called government waste, with the war described as a scam benefiting corrupt entities and drawing the US into a pointless conflict.
• 🇺🇸 The $20 million spent on Sesame Street in Iraq (Al Alam Simsum) to promote inclusion was deemed a wasteful expenditure.