What a roller coaster we’re on! Wild swings in the stock market, surprise changes in international relations . . . 2018 will likely go down as one of the wildest since, well, 2017.
International news in 2018 included the murder of American resident and Saudi dissident journalist Khashoggi in the Saudi Arabian embassy in Turkey. The Saudis denied the murder at first, then admitted that they killed him and hid his dismembered body. International outrage followed, yet those responsible for the murder will likely avoid prosecution for the crime. However, Khashoggi and other murdered journalists were given the honor of Time’s “People of the Year” in recognition of their sacrifices in pursuing truth.
The fallout from the United Kingdom’s “Brexit” vote in 2016 continued as politicians scrambled to figure out a plan for the nation to leave the European Union. Theresa May’s Conservative government teetered on the edge, finally drafting an agreement that appears to make no one happy. May survived a “no confidence” vote. A former Russian spy and his daughter were poisoned in Salisbury, England and the UK investigators determined that the Kremlin had ordered the hit. On a brighter note, Prince Harry married African-American actress Meghan Markle, and months later they made the announcement that a little royal was on the way. Prince William and Catherine Middleton welcomed a new prince, Louis, in April.
Macron’s government in France faced challenges from announcements of higher energy costs, bringing “yellow vests” out into the streets. Germany’s government battled a resurgent extreme right wing political movement, and Angela Merkel decided someone else should be in charge after her term is up.
A contentious and divisive mid-term election dominated the American news cycle for most of the year. Races for the Senate and House of Representatives were hotly contested, seen as a battle between Trump loyalists and anti-Trump forces. When everything was done, Democrats seized control of the House, while Republican clung to a razor-thin majority in the Senate. Indiana’s Senate race between Trump-promoted Republican Mike Braun and Democrat Joe Donnelly was a key race; Donnelly lost in a decisive defeat.
The Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy for illegal immigrants and those coming to the border asking for asylum led to thousands of children being taken from their parents throughout spring and summer. The children were sent to hastily set up camps and facilities throughout the country, and in some cases, authorities lost track of them in the system, making reunification almost impossible. In October, just before the midterms, the administration warned of “caravans” making their way to the border; when they arrived in late November, most turned out to be women and children fleeing violence in Central America. A violent confrontation at the border between immigrants breaking through the border and Customs officials sparked controversy when it became known that tear gas was lobbed into the crowd that included small children and women. At the end of the year, the president held the budget process hostage over border wall funding, leading to a government shutdown.
Tariffs, and the threat of tariffs, against China and Canada were in the headlines. Despite economists warnings that tariffs would spark inflation and hurt consumers, the Trump administration enacted tariffs on Chinese steel, aluminum, and many other goods. In retailiation, China imposed tariffs on U.S. grown grains, soybeans, and other commodities. The Trump administration also imposed tariffs on newsprint from Canada, driving up the cost to printers and newspapers — leading to small local newspapers, alternative weeklies, and other small publishers to close the doors or switch to a strictly online platform. Construction, auto manufacturing, and many other industries have been hit with increased costs which will damage their balance sheets.
The stock market, which had been a bright spot in the news (not to mention investors) with record highs, became unstable, and recorded its worst December since the Great Depression. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates, while the Trump administration’s tariffs on most goods coming from China and other countries created inflationary pressures on major manufacturers.
President Trump met with dictator Kim Jong-un to persuade North Korea to end their nuclear bomb program. The talks also helped open up discussions between South and North Korea. Despite assurances that North Korea would dismantle them, satellite imagery suggests that the sites are still active.
Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller began handing out indictments in the case against Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Twelve Russian intelligence officers, plus Mike Flynn, George Papadopoulos, Mike Flynn, Paul Manafort, and Rick Gates, all connected to the Trump campaign, were indicted. The Mueller investigation continues, despite the president saying it was a “witch hunt.”
The Trump administration saw several departures in 2018, including FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, Communications Director Hope Hicks, WH Staff Secretary Rob Porter, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Sec. of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, EPA AdministratorScott Pruitt, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Chief of Staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley all departed or were forced out.
Mass shootings marked the year, with the Parkland, Florida school shooting in February killing 17 students and injuring another 17. The Parkland shooting spurred a mass protest against gun violence from young people — March for Our Lives. In October, 11 people were killed in a mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Another mass shooting in Thousand Oaks California left 13 dead and many injured at a country-western bar. Some of the people in the bar had survived the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that killed 58 people.
The year was also marked by natural disasters, including a string of devastating hurricanes and wildfires. Entire towns were wiped out in California and over 85 were killed fleeing fast-moving fires. A 7.0 earthquake just outside Anchorage, Alaska, left roads buckled and buildings damaged, though there were no fatalities. In December, a tsunami, triggered by an undersea landslide, killed more than 400 in Indonesia.
Closer to home, the city of Indianapolis was a finalist for the Amazon headquarters, but did not succeed in getting the project. The city suffered from a record number of shootings and murders in 2018, and the opioid crisis shows no signs of abating. Jeff Miller stepped down from the City-County Council after allegations of inappropriate touching of a child.
Notable deaths included former President George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara within months of each other, Sen. John McCain, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, physicist Stephen Hawking, and the Rev. Billy Graham. Astronauts Alan Bean and John Young passed away. The world lost Marvel comics and superhero mastermind Stan Lee, and “Beetle Bailey” originator Mort Walker. Anthony Bourdain, chef, author, and TV host, died. Authors Tom Wolfe, Ursula K. Le Guin, Philip Roth, Neil Simon, political columnist Charles Krauthammer, and sci-fi great Harlan Ellison wrote their final chapters. Singers and musicians Aretha Franklin, Roy Clark, Vic Damone, Randy Scruggs, Nancy Wilson, and Temptations founder Dennis Edwards all passed in 2018. Actors Burt Reynolds, Tab Hunter, Charlotte Rae, Barbara Harris, Nanette Fabray, Jerry Van Dyke, Bill Daily, last Munchkin Jerry Maren, Margot Kidder, Sondra Locke, Ken Berry, Verne Troyer (Mini-Me in Austin Powers films), David Ogden Stiers, John Gavin, John Mahoney, and magician/actors Harry Anderson and Ricky Jay died. Director/producer/actress Penny Marshall, Jackson Five patriarch Joe Jackson, comic Marty Allen, producer Steven Bochco, “Bozo” originator Frank Avruch, and Comedy Store owner Mitzi Shore all passed away.
Indiana-connected deaths included the artist Robert Indiana (creator of the “LOVE” statue), former City-County Council member Mary Moriarity Adams, Indianapolis Star journalist Matt Tully, journalist and author Terry Hutchens, and artist Lois Main Templeton.
As we head into 2019, we hope the days will be brighter and the world more prosperous!