2022 has been...a lot. We had everything from midterms and the war in Ukraine to West Elm Caleb and “Wednesday.” Now, before we ring in the New Year, theSkimm is taking a week to reflect on some of the biggest stories of the year. Let’s hop right into it...

President Biden…#46’s second year was marked by a record-low approval rating. Sky-high inflation didn’t help. But there were legislative Ws: He signed the Inflation Reduction Act, taking steps on climate change, health care, and tax reform...though it’s not clear it actually reduces inflation. He also signed the Respect for Marriage Act. And put pen to paper on the most significant gun control legislation in nearly 30 years (just as SCOTUS expanded gun rights). Speaking of the Supremes, Biden ushered in the high court’s first Black female justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson. He also helped bring Brittney Griner home. And pardoned some federal marijuana convictions. He also gave the go-ahead to kill ISIS’s and al-Qaeda’s leaders. But under Biden’s watch, the US saw one of the deadliest human smuggling incidents in recent US history. And the deadliest year for migrants at the southern border. His fist bump with the Saudi crown prince triggered backlash. And so have his many gaffes, hot mic moments, and the ongoing investigation into his son, Hunter Biden. His student loan forgiveness plan is in limbo. But despite all that, Biden’s party defied history in the midterms. Now, many — including Biden — are looking at what it means for 2024.

Speaking of elections…The midterms took over 2022. The economy dominated headlines. But with abortion rights on the ballot, women turned out to vote. So did younger voters (shoutout to Gen Z). And the red wave that many predicted didn’t happen. Senate Ws in Pennsylvania and Georgia kept the chamber in Dem's hands. But then Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) dipped from the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, Republicans took the House — with their slimmest majority ever. Speaking of firsts, there were a bunch — including the first Gen Z House member and the country’s first openly lesbian governor.

Abortion…SCOTUS hit ‘undo’ to Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to an abortion. The move triggered a wave of reactions from all sides of the debate — with emotions ranging from fear and anger to joy and hope. Now, it’s all up to the states to decide when and whether the procedure is allowed. More than a dozen now crack down on abortion — restricting or banning it entirely. Seventeen states and DC protect the procedure. And when put directly to a vote, Americans in all five states that had ballot initiatives chose the pro-abortion rights option. Companies pledged to cover abortion-related travel expenses. Some Republicans are calling for a 15-week nationwide abortion ban. Democrats want to codify Roe. But that’s not expected to happen in a divided Congress.

Jan 6 hearings…For the first time ever, Congress referred a former US president for criminal prosecution. The news came after 18 months of a Democratic-led House committee investigation. And included proposed charges against former President Trump including inciting an insurrection, conspiracy to defraud the federal gov, and obstructing the certification of the 2020 election. Now, it’s up to the American public to decide how to digest this information. And the DOJ to decide whether to pursue charges. But they have their own special counsel looking into his role on Jan 6. Meanwhile, Trump is the only Republican to officially announce a presidential run for 2024. And is the subject of quite a few legal issues and criminal investigations. And has been called out for dining with antisemites. Oh, but there were NFTs.

LGBTQIA+ issues…A gunman killed five people at an LGBTQIA+ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The attack came as more than 300 anti-LGBTQIA+ laws were intro’d this year — many specifically targeting trans youth. That included: blocking gender-affirming care, banning trans athletes from sports, and restricting bathroom access. Florida passed a bill that critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law. And states from Arizona to Texas worked to crack down on gender-affirming care for kids. The world governing body on swimming updated its policy. Meanwhile, Biden signed the “Respect for Marriage Act.” California became a safe haven from legal action for trans youth and their families. Gender X is now an option on US passports. On the international stage, Cuba legalized same-sex marriage. And Singapore decriminalized gay sex.

Antisemitism...was on the rise, continuing the trend over (at least) the last five years. A gunman held four people hostage at a Jewish congregation. Kanye West’s comments brought antisemitism to the forefront by threatening to go “death con 3 on Jewish people” on Twitter. And then posting a swastika and complimenting Hitler during an interview. Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving jumped in to share a film with antisemitic tropes. Both faced backlash and repercussions (loss of partnership deals and game suspension). But the high-profile comments left many Jews in the US shaken.

More from across the US…A baby formula shortage had parents scrambling. California banned the sale of gas-guzzling cars and blocked rap lyrics from being used in court. Lynching is now a federal hate crime. NYC mourned the death of Michelle Go. Mass shootings are still a national crisis — rocking Buffalo, Uvalde, Tulsa, Highland Park, Colorado Springs, and many other towns. And social justice is still at the forefront of everyone's mind. Police killed Amir Locke during a no-knock raid. A jury found Ahmaud Arbery’s three killers guilty. Kim Potter was sentenced for Daunte Wright’s death. The federal gov charged four officers in connection with Breonna Taylor’s death. And a Michigan officer was charged with killing Patrick Lyoya.

Iran…chanted “Women, Life, Freedom” after morality police arrested 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for allegedly violating the country’s hijab law. Days later, she was dead. Tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets as her death became a rallying cry for the women-led movement to change leadership and laws. Police arrested more than 18,000 people and opened fire on thousands. At least 300 people have died amid protests. Elnaz Rekabi rock climbed without a hijab in South Korea. And Iran’s soccer team skipped on singing their national anthem during the World Cup. But despite mixed messaging on the status of Iran’s morality police, no formal changes have been confirmed.

Things beyond the US borders...Boris Johnson partied too hard. Liz Truss and the lettuce came and went. And everyone said ‘good day’ to the UK’s new-new PM Rishi Sunak. Queen Elizabeth II left her 70-year mark on the throne. King Charles III took the helm while the pound took the plunge. Chinese President Xi Jinping secured another term. And the country rolled back its strict zero-COVID policy after protests spread across the country. Brazil threw out Jair Bolsonaro. Israel brought back Benjamin Netanyahu. Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated while campaigning for the election of a new PM. Sri Lanka went through a political and economic crisis. So did Pakistan, and historic floods made things worse. A deadly earthquake destroyed homes in Afghanistan — all while the Taliban reinstated Islamic law. And record and deadly heat waves swept across Europe. “Freedom Convoy” protests blocked Canadian highways over the country’s COVID-19 mandates. And India expanded abortion rights for women. Ethiopia and Tigray reached a truce. South Korea mourned hundreds killed in a Halloween crowd surge. Peru got their first female president after the previous one was given the boot. And Bali’s governor said its law banning sex outside of marriage won’t affect tourists after many feared the rule would rub visitors the wrong way.

We don’t know about you, but there was a lot to cover in '22. Stay tuned this week for everything on health and business...to the biggest in pop culture and entertainment. Yes, including the spray-on dress.