American Absurdity: Political Scandals and Mirrors Defining 2025

The year 2025 has been a difficult year for many people, and for some, the biggest burdens they had to bear were the result of decisions made in Washington, DC Contrary to what Pharrell Williams might think, politics is not a “magic trick”, and its tactics have a real impact around the world on millions of people’s lifestyles.

In addition to inflicting pain on the proletariat, politicians and public figures close to politics have gotten themselves into trouble this year. BOSSIP has compiled a short but mighty list of some of the most infamous events of 2025.

Source: Win McNamee / Getty

Charlie Kirk’s murder

Let’s address the Republican elephant in the room. Until now, the biggest story in politics in 2025 was the assassination of right-wing broadcaster Charlie Kirk. While holding one of his Turning Point USA “debate” events at Utah Valley University, a bullet struck Kirk in the neck as he tried to deflect a question about mass shootings from “gang violence.”

The public execution was met with a range of reactions from celebration to outrage and everything in between. Like many things these days, this issue has become very political as many good people do their best to lay the blame at the feet of their colleagues and the other side. Even more disgusting, conservatives (and some odd liberals) have tried to paint Kirk as a Martin Luther King Jr.-esque figure who “did politics the right way”.

Charlie Kirk’s legacy does not fit either of those definitions. He was a white person who wanted white people in positions of power and preyed on everyone, especially black people, and some white people worshiped him because of that.

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Historic Government Shutdown

The 2025 US government shutdown lasted a record 43 days. There was political turmoil after Congress failed to pass funding bills amid partisan bickering over spending priorities and policy riders. Non-essential agencies were closed, civil servants were cut, services were cut, and economic uncertainty grew until a temporary funding agreement reopened government operations following intense negotiations and public pressure across the country.

There was a lot of debate in the forum about whether the shutdown would actually accomplish the desired goal, to keep Obamacare funded and, ultimately, to keep millions of people with an affordable health care option. In the end, those subsidies were not extended, and in 2026, many Americans will suffer greatly in costs, and the current party, the Republicans, has not offered a solution to the problems facing working families.

Source: Davidoff Studios Photography / Getty

The Epstein Files

Justice Department files collected during the sex crimes investigation of late financier Jeffrey Epstein were for a much-anticipated release in 2025. If Drake and Kendrick Lamar released a joint album this year, they would have a hard time competing against the popularity of this public information dump.

Besides using this issue to win votes in the 2024 election, Donald Trump has done everything in his power not to authorize the release of sensitive information that would make him look very bad. However, his best did not match the weapon most used in Congress in 2025, the impeachment petition.

The procedural tool allows House executives to force bills to the floor for a vote with 218 signatures from their colleagues. The bipartisan release request was the reason the DOJ and Trump were forced to release thousands of pages of files containing notes, photos, and other evidence about Epstein and those in his path. Eventually, the trove of heavily redacted files was made public, but members of Congress from both sides of the aisle were critical that more files needed to see the light.

Trump Sends National Guard to American Cities

One of Donald Trump’s many public relations stunts to publicly distract from the contents of the Epstein files was to plant National Guard troops on the streets of many American cities. The first city to be ruled by President Orange’s iron fist was Washington, DC Viral videos of soldiers patrolling parks, picking up trash, and walking the streets lined with upscale restaurants and bars made it clear that “stopping crime” was not the mission’s goal. After the deployment of DC, Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, Portland, and Chicago were all attacked by soldiers who were photographed looking incredulous as they carried out absurd orders.

Source: NurPhoto / Getty

In 2025, ICE raids intensified amid heated debate, targeting workplaces and communities in several states. Supporters argue that the law upends federal law and border security. Critics say the raids have disrupted families, spread fear, and undermined local trust. Legal challenges, protests, and policy disputes underscored the country’s deep divisions over immigration enforcement and humanitarian obligations during the election and ongoing congressional debates being considered across the country.