Every year, New York Times journalist Nicholas Kristof ends the year providing a useful and compelling summary of good news from the past year to counteract the general journalistic theme of bad news dominating the headlines. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kristof refused to offer that annual summary this year. His reactionary political ethic regarding the President of the United States prevented this work. In his own words: "I’ve done these “best year ever” columns annually, irritating Eeyores. But now I just can’t. The year 2025 was a setback for humanity -- and unfortunately, the United States is a reason for the retreat.” Here is the work Kristof is unwilling to do regarding the good news of 2025.

Kristof notes without great detail that the more than 100,000 Americans being killed by illegal drugs is in decline. Since 2020, half a million Americans have been killed by an array of drugs delivered into the United States at the behest of a variety of anti-American actors from China to Mexican drug cartels and yes, to Venezuela. Louisiana is one of many state surveillance systems showing a dramatic 30% decline in deaths resulting in tens of thousands of lives being saved in the past two years.

Illegal border crossings declined dramatically in 2025. Roughly 60,000 encounters took place at the border with U.S. border agents this fall. This is a 28% decline from the previous record low in 2012 of more than 80,000 encounters. For seven months, border agents have not released captured illegal migrants into the U.S. This frees up our border enforcement to pursue the drugs coming in to kill Americans: 54,947 pounds of drugs seized nationwide -- a 33% increase from October; Fentanyl seizures: 1,543 pounds -- a 59% increase from October and the highest monthly total since last October; Methamphetamine seizures: 21,935 pounds -- a 118% increase from October; Cocaine seizures: 8,240 pounds -- a 40% increase from October.

2025 is on pace to be the largest decline in the US murder rate in U.S. history. This is accompanied by broad declines in violent crime. Hundreds of American lives are being saved by better and more effective law enforcement -- including urban areas of America. Many U.S. cities like D.C. and Los Angeles recorded declines of 20 to 30 percent. Albuquerque, ranks in the Top 10 nationally for per-capita murder rate, but experienced a 32.3 percent decrease. It is truly malignant to refuse to acknowledge this good news. Mass killings have also declined to their lowest level in 20 years.

One of the most dangerous rhetorical agendas of global killing anchored in Gaza by the genocidaires of Hamas was disrupted. More than one hundred Jews captured on October 27, 2023 in Israel were returned to their loving relatives and families in 2025. The peace deal brought to an end the active genocidal activities of Hamas which killed hundreds of Israelis along with civilian inhabitants of the Gaza Strip. There are still dead bodies to be returned but one of the most intransigent conflicts in the world was substantially solved by U.S.-led negotiations. Public awareness and concern about anti-Semitism is growing in the U.S. and worldwide. This is one of at least six major peace deals brokered in the past year. Deals in Congo and Cambodia reduced violence and killing worldwide through diplomacy. The U.S. created a de facto peace deal between Iran and Israel after destroying one of the most dangerous nuclear weapons programs in the world in Iran. Iran has promised for decades to erase Israel from the map of the world by way of its military genocidal ambition. Despite Kristof’s concerns, in 150 nations death rates from non-communicable causes such as cancer and heart disease have declined dramatically in the past decade.

Many other wrongfully detained Americans were returned to the U.S. in 2025. Afghanistan (Taliban): Ryan Corbett and William McKenty (January 2025); additional releases later, including Amir Amiry (September 2025). Russia: Marc Fogel (American teacher, February 2025); Ksenia Karelina (ballet dancer, April 2025). Belarus: Multiple, including Anastasia Nuhfer (January 2025) and Youras Ziankovich (April 2025); at least two by February. Venezuela: Six in February 2025; an additional 10 (citizens and permanent residents) in a July 2025 swap involving El Salvador. More than 20 Americans wrongfully detained worldwide were returned to the U.S. through diplomacy.

The U.S. economy is showing strong growth -- 4.3% for the third quarter GDP of 2025. This is on top of second quarter growth of 3.8%. First quarter GDP growth coming out of 2024 was -.6%. These two recent quarters indicate economic recovery from declining rates in 2024. Consumer spending rose from 2.5% in the second quarter to 3.5% in the third quarter -- an important underlying signal of economic strength. The poverty rate for the U.S. reported in September 2025 showed a .4% decline in poverty. The Atlanta Fed Wage Growth Tracker and Employment Cost Index show wage and salary growth around 4.% year-over-year in recent months. This means wages are growing faster than inflation. The most recent Thanksgiving meal was the most inexpensive in more than 40 years. The global translation of data like this is that fewer than 5% of the world’s population is expected to live in extreme poverty by 2030 -- an incredible human achievement in the midst of massive population increases worldwide.

One of the most serious problems America and the world faces in the 21st century is an epistemic crisis where truth tellers cynically refuse to share the good news of humanity. This ideological anger that creates reactionaries like Nicholas Kristof, who renege on their journalistic principles in order to covet ideological goals, destroying the cycle of goodwill that lifts humanity from suffering to enlightened relief. America is not the cause of a new wave of human suffering, it is, in fact, as it has been for decades, a profound source of human improvement. Hopefully, the good news will still reach the New York Times. Without clear empirical documentation of idealistic results, the next generation cannot learn how to further this cycle of virtue improving the national and international condition.

Dr. Ben Voth is professor of rhetoric and director of debate at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is the author of eight academic books regarding political communication, presidential rhetoric, and genocide.

Image: AT via Magic Studio