1/ The end of 2019 marks the finale of a transformational decade, so here are some of the biggest stories from the past 10 years:
2/ “Citizens United”: In January 2010, the Supreme Court declared that political spending is a form of protected speech. People trying to fix the problem of money in politics, David Cole wrote in 2016, should take a page from the gun-rights playbook. bit.ly/35eoHOI
3/ Drone warfare: The American military’s use of drones increased from 2010 to 2011. Mark Bowden explained in our September 2013 issue how the machine is changing the future of combat: bit.ly/2tlMcZe
4/ The Syrian Civil War: The war began in March 2011, two years into Barack Obama’s presidency. @JeffreyGoldberg assessed Obama’s foreign-policy approach in April 2016: bit.ly/37q1P0h
5/ Droughts: The 2011–17 California drought mirrored a pattern in the Southwest, where every few centuries a mega-drought hits. @yayitsrob reported on preliminary research in 2018 that suggests the Southwest’s dry spell may have lasted up to 19 years: bit.ly/2QzbYAT
6/ Gun-Violence Epidemic: In Dec. 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary School endured a mass shooting that shook the country. Six years later, survivors and family members affected by previous shootings opened up about their trauma, grieving, and intermittent hope: bit.ly/2teU0vM
7/ The Rise of ISIS: In 2013, the Islamic State of Iraq officially renamed itself the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, otherwise known as ISIS. @gcaw wrote about the beliefs and strategy of the religious group in 2015: bit.ly/2sA2EjV
8/ Legalization of Gay Marriage: In a 5–4 vote, the Supreme Court declared gay marriage constitutional in 2015. Later that year, @mollyesque explained the untold story of how it happened: bit.ly/2RHt3sA
9/ Brexit: In June 2016, Britain voted to leave the European Union. @TomMcTague explains how Boris Johnson has set the country on course for a future not only outside the EU, but also one that remakes its regulatory, legal, and economic order: bit.ly/2thWN7r
@TomMcTague 10/ Trump Is Elected: In November of that same year, Donald Trump was elected president of the United States. The foundation of his presidency, Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote in 2017, is the negation of Barack Obama’s legacy: bit.ly/2eOkXj9
11/ #MeToo: Inspired by allegations of sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein, the #MeToo movement emerged in 2017. This year, in March, Catharine MacKinnon walked through the legal breakthrough—and crucial precondition—for #MeToo: bit.ly/2rMsANo
12/12 Trump Is Impeached: President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 18. In our March 2019 issue, @YAppelbaum argued that “starting the process will rein in a president who is undermining American ideals.” bit.ly/2srsWcH
