CNN 5 Things 5 Things New Year's Day Special
Jan 1, 2026
This New Year's special dives into the biggest stories from the past year that are set to shape 2026. Explore the intricacies of the ongoing US-China trade war and its impact on prices. Discover the complexities of immigration crackdowns and the fallout from deportations. Hear about nationwide protests and the legal battles surrounding crowd control. Plus, gain insights into the Gaza conflict and its humanitarian crises. Finally, examine the rapid rise of AI and its far-reaching effects on society.
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Tariffs Fueled A Cost-Of-Living Crisis
- President Trump's tariff-driven trade war dominated the U.S. economy in 2025 and pushed consumer prices higher.
- Tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada coincided with spikes in everyday costs like eggs and amplified affordability concerns.
High-Profile Immigration Arrests And Deportations
- ICE deported nearly 200,000 people in the first seven months of Trump's second term, sparking high-profile cases like Kilmar Abrego Garcia's mistaken deportation.
- Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and student activist, was arrested on Columbia's campus and later faced deportation efforts.
Crackdowns Triggered Urban Protests And Legal Pushback
- Immigration crackdowns sparked massive protests in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago and led to clashes with local law enforcement.
- Courts limited some federal crowd-control tactics and the Supreme Court blocked a National Guard deployment to Chicago.