According to Gateway Pundit and SuperGrok: Here are the top 10 U.S. news stories that generated the most public attention and traffic in 2025, based on trending searches, year-in-review recaps from major outlets (e.g., ABC News, CBS News, Google Year in Search), and widespread media coverage:
- Assassination of Charlie Kirk
The September shooting of conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during a campus event at Utah Valley University topped Google’s U.S. trending searches and dominated headlines, sparking national debates on political violence. - Donald Trump’s second inauguration and early administration actions
Trump’s January 20 swearing-in as the 47th President, followed by rapid executive orders, tariffs, and immigration policies (including mass deportations), defined the year’s political landscape. - Palisades and Los Angeles wildfires
Devastating early-year fires in Malibu and Pacific Palisades destroyed thousands of homes, becoming one of the most talked-about non-political domestic disasters. - Targeted shootings of Minnesota Democratic lawmakers
The June attacks on State Rep. Melissa Hortman (killed) and State Sen. John Hoffman (injured), along with their families, raised alarms about political violence against officials. - Major immigration and deportation policies
High-profile deportations, including transfers to El Salvador’s CECOT prison using wartime laws, and related protests fueled ongoing national discourse. - Government shutdown and fiscal battles
The longest U.S. government shutdown in history, tied to budget fights and Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” ranked among top trending news topics. - Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial
The high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering trial captivated celebrity and crime followers throughout the year.Bryan Kohberger sentencing in Idaho student murders
The July sentencing of Kohberger for the 2022 killings drew massive renewed interest in one of the decade’s biggest true-crime cases. - Central Texas floods and Camp Mystic tragedy
- Deadly summer flooding killed over 100, with spotlight on children affected at a summer camp in known flood zones
- Economic impacts of tariffs and stock market volatility. Trump’s sweeping tariffs reshaped trade, consumer prices, and markets, contributing to dramatic stock swings and widespread economic anxiety discussions.
But, according to TIME Magazine, the assassination of Charlie Kirk didn’t deserve to be on the list…
Did you notice that the Minnesota fraud was not on the list, but P-Diddy was?
