It took just a few seconds and a violent, unnecessary death to drag a snowy residential street in Minneapolis into America’s new age of political brutality.

Politics in America these days has increasingly featured unreasoned narratives, meaningless rhetoric and nonsensical drama that ignores crucial problems inhibiting actual governance. The recent record-breaking 43-day federal government shutdown is a prime example.

There will be much to dive into when On Politics returns in January, and a familiar voice will be taking the helm — at least for a little while. By Jess Bidgood It’s the last newsletter of 2025, and I’ve been thinking about where we started.

Trump is encouraging U.S. oil executives to invest $100 billion in Venezuela to help rebuild that country after removing its leader, Nicolas Maduro.