Max Benwell

A senior editor cycles from Brooklyn to MetLife Stadium, renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup, documenting the full trip to determine how feasible the ride is.

A reporter attempts to walk from New York City to MetLife Stadium in response to steep World Cup train fare increases, completing a 4.5‑hour route that ultimately ends in blocked pedestrian access and reveals inadequate infrastructure for fans attempting to reach the venue on foot.

Argues for a mindful and intentional approach to using artificial intelligence, emphasizing user control, critical thinking, and responsible engagement. Highlights the need for regulation, environmental awareness, and privacy protection while outlining four guiding principles for using AI as a helpful assistant rather than a replacement for judgment. Shares examples of practical personal uses and stresses the importance of verification and informed decision-making.

Readers who completed the Guardian’s Reclaim Your Brain newsletter report lasting reductions in screen time and improvements in wellbeing, with some making significant life changes such as rediscovering reading or reevaluating career and personal priorities. While many maintained lower phone use, others saw gradual increases but still stayed below previous levels. Subscribers found tools such as the custom screen‑time wallpaper helpful, and shared advice for maintaining healthier digital habits, highlighting the importance of boundaries, mindful use and managing expectations around communication.

Readers who completed the Guardian’s five‑week Reclaim your brain programme reported reducing their phone use by nearly 40% and experiencing improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and stronger engagement with hobbies and family. Several participants described major drops from more than eight daily hours on their phones to as little as two, leading to better focus, more free time, and increased mindfulness. Testimonials noted improved mental health, enhanced relationships with children and partners, and the rediscovery of offline activities such as reading, crafting, exercise, and bird‑feeding.

Many readers express dissatisfaction with the time they spend on their phones, prompting the launch of a Guardian series and a free five‑week coaching newsletter aimed at reducing screen time. The initiative, co‑written with author Catherine Price, offers structured guidance and personal reflections from reporter Rhik Samadder. While acknowledging the benefits of smartphones, the project encourages finding a healthier balance between digital engagement and offline life.

The first public January 6 committee hearing argued that the Capitol attack was the culmination of a months-long effort led by Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 election, rather than a spontaneous riot. Testimony and video from William Barr, Ivanka Trump, Caroline Edwards and others showed that Trump’s own administration and allies rejected claims of widespread fraud, while Trump continued promoting them and pressuring Mike Pence to block certification. The committee presented evidence of coordination involving the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, graphic footage of violence against police, and Trump’s apparent approval of threats against Pence. The hearing portrayed the attack as a grave threat to constitutional democracy and previewed further investigations into the roles of Trump, his legal team and extremist groups.

Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp experienced a roughly six-hour global outage affecting billions of users, businesses and Facebook’s own employees. Outside experts attributed the disruption to an internal DNS or Border Gateway Protocol routing error rather than a cyberattack, though Facebook had not explained the root cause. The incident highlighted the company’s dependence on its own infrastructure, its importance to communications and small businesses, and the risks posed by its scale. It also intensified scrutiny of Facebook’s market power, transparency and alleged failure to prioritize user safety, as whistleblower Frances Haugen prepared to urge Congress to regulate the company.

Joe Biden used his first address to a joint session of Congress to promote a $1.8 trillion Families Plan featuring universal preschool, expanded childcare, tuition-free community college, health insurance subsidies and tax cuts for lower- and middle-income workers. He framed infrastructure, climate action and expanded internet access as job-creation measures, defended COVID-19 vaccination and called for gun-control, policing and voting-rights reforms. The address was held before a smaller, socially distanced audience and marked the first time two women—Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi—sat behind the president. Progressive Democrats praised Biden's pandemic response but urged substantially stronger action on climate change, racial injustice, economic inequality and the minimum wage. Republican response speaker Tim Scott promoted bipartisanship while defending the Trump-era economy and Georgia's voting restrictions, claims the live coverage challenged as misleading.

Trump’s early post-presidency activity at Mar-a-Lago is revealed through guests’ Instagram posts, showing him frequently mingling with members, appearing at weddings, charity events, and political gatherings while remaining largely maskless among similarly unmasked guests. Republican lawmakers continue visiting him in Florida, signaling his sustained influence within the party. Photos also show celebrity visitors, an outbreak at the resort following large events, and Trump displaying a Coca-Cola bottle despite urging supporters to boycott the company. The images collectively depict Trump maintaining visibility and influence while residing at his private resort.

Studies and dating coaches highlight consistent gender differences in emoji use, with men tending toward more direct or sexualized symbols and women using emojis more frequently and with greater contextual awareness. Researchers find women typically pair emojis more subtly, elongate words for emotional emphasis, and avoid certain symbols favored by men, such as monkey emojis used to soften awkwardness. Large-scale analyses reveal similar patterns while also showing that users identifying outside the gender binary display distinct emoji interpretations. Despite some alignment with stereotypes, research also uncovers unexpected findings, such as men being more likely than women to use heart emojis in messaging.

Donald Trump became the first US president to be impeached twice after the Democratic-led House voted 232–197 to charge him with incitement of insurrection over the deadly 6 January Capitol attack. Ten House Republicans joined Democrats, making the vote the most bipartisan presidential impeachment in US history. Nancy Pelosi called Trump a clear and present danger, while Kevin McCarthy said Trump bore responsibility for the attack but opposed impeachment. Mitch McConnell said the Senate trial would occur after Joe Biden's 20 January inauguration, leaving the outcome uncertain. The live coverage also documented heightened security, threats of further armed protests, extremist activity on platforms including Zello, and continuing political divisions as Biden prepared to take office.

Congress certified Joe Biden’s presidential victory and Kamala Harris’s vice-presidential victory after pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol and interrupted the joint session. Biden won 306 electoral votes to Donald Trump’s 232. Four people died, including a woman shot by police, and at least 52 people were arrested. The House and Senate rejected Republican objections to election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania, while other objections failed for lack of Senate support. Trump continued to repeat unfounded election-fraud claims despite promising an orderly transition on 20 January, and Twitter and Facebook temporarily suspended his accounts. The attack prompted condemnation from lawmakers and international leaders, as well as calls for Trump’s removal before Biden’s inauguration.

A collection of stories highlights individuals and groups who brought humor, resilience and positive action to a difficult year. Election prank callers mocked baseless fraud claims, a daughter publicly opposed her father’s far‑right political campaign, and viral sensation Nathan Apodaca lifted national spirits. Memes such as “This is fine” captured collective anxiety, while Doug Emhoff’s supportive role marked a shift in traditional gender norms. Katie Porter pushed for free Covid testing, election officials resisted intimidation, and Opal Lee advanced Juneteenth recognition. K‑pop fans disrupted surveillance tools and supported social justice, celebrity chefs raised funds for struggling workers, and delivery workers kept cities functioning despite unsafe conditions.

A series of Instagram-promoted gadgets meant to improve appearance, posture and wellbeing are tested during the pandemic with results ranging from mildly helpful to ineffective or exploitative. The Jawzrsize offers some stress relief despite discomfort, Somnifix strips fail to stay on, and back and neck devices provide temporary relief but raise safety questions that experts frame as generally low-risk. The Upright Go 2 proves the most useful for posture correction, while the Manly body-editing app is criticized for preying on body insecurities. Overall, the products offer distraction more than meaningful transformation.

Joe Biden’s leads expanded in Pennsylvania and Nevada, putting him on the verge of securing the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, while Georgia announced a recount after the race remained extremely close. Election officials continued counting outstanding ballots and defended the integrity of the process, while Donald Trump and his campaign made unsupported claims about illegal votes and election transparency. Several Republicans, including Mitt Romney and Roy Blunt, criticized or resisted efforts to undermine the count, although Mitch McConnell declined to discuss a possible refusal to concede. Biden and Kamala Harris planned a primetime address as Trump remained out of public view.

US news networks cut away from Donald Trump’s speech in which he again falsely claimed election victory, with anchors correcting his statements in real time. Several Republican officials, including Chris Christie, Pat Toomey and Mitt Romney, publicly rejected Trump’s allegations of widespread fraud and emphasized that all votes should be counted. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris defended the integrity of the election process, while media figures such as Anderson Cooper condemned Trump’s rhetoric as dangerous and undemocratic.

Wales began a two-week “firebreak” lockdown as coronavirus infections surged across Europe and globally. The World Health Organization and European health authorities warned of exponential growth, while France, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Belgium, Poland and other countries tightened restrictions. The United States faced projections of more than half a million COVID-19 deaths by February, with modelling suggesting widespread mask use could prevent many deaths. Vaccine and treatment developments included US approval of remdesivir, the resumption of AstraZeneca’s US trial, plans to resume Johnson & Johnson’s trial, and Brazilian authorization to import China’s CoronaVac doses. The live coverage also reported rising cases in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Iran and elsewhere, alongside concerns that the pandemic was delaying global polio-eradication efforts.

Nathan Apodaca describes how a TikTok video of him longboarding while drinking cranberry juice unexpectedly went viral, leading to widespread support, celebrity attention, and material help including a truck from Ocean Spray. He reflects on the difficulties he faced before the video, including unreliable transportation and limited resources, and on the positive response from Native communities. He emphasizes staying grounded, encourages voter participation, and hopes the opportunities from his sudden fame will help him secure a home for his family while remaining open to returning to warehouse work if necessary.

Commentators and journalists widely praised debate moderator Kristen Welker for maintaining control and ensuring a calmer final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Her firm enforcement of rules contrasted with the chaotic first debate, drawing commendations from media figures and even Trump, despite his earlier criticism. The debate addressed major issues including the coronavirus pandemic, immigration, climate change and race, but reactions suggested it did little to shift voter sentiment.