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Good morning, San Diego.
I love getting in the last word, so imagine my delight at getting to write the final newsletter of 2025, when the rough beast of 2026 is slouching toward us to be born.
In light of this, we have assembled a pastiche of our most memorable stories of the year, the ones that really got to us and left us shocked, awed or in hysterics — a tough bar to clear in the bizarre world that this year brought us. It’s a great overview of how the year went for San Diego, which is kind of how it went everywhere: a lot of screaming and running around with our hair on fire, mostly figuratively, with some moments of true beauty.
There’s also been a lot of darkness this past year, with more all but guaranteed to follow in 2026 — it was one of the hottest years on record, for one thing, and not unrelatedly (as environmental pressures force more and more people out of their home regions) immigration has never looked more fraught, all over the world. Our Lillian Perlmutter discusses what has changed on the immigration front in the United States, and how it might continue to shift 2026.
The beauty reminds us what’s worth fighting for, even amid bitter politics and public confusion. It is my most fervent hope that 2026 is the year that everyone remembers that, and that we all step up in the global fight for human rights and dignity — together.
Happy New Year, everyone. Here’s to a kinder, stronger 2026.
Stay safe out there.
Thoughts? Opinions? Let us know what you think by emailing news@timesofsandiego.com.
Today’s top story
Go behind the headlines with Times of San Diego staff as they share their most memorable 2025 stories
By Jennifer Vigil • Times of San Diego
We asked Times of San Diego staffers and contributors to reflect on the year’s work and share some of their 2025 favorites with you.
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7 stories to start your day
Times of San Diego thanks our corporate sponsors. Find out more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities here.
Today’s opinion column
Opinion: Californians’ view of insurance must shift from piggy bank to safety net
The healthiest insurance market is boring: well-designed policies, priced fairly, rarely used, quietly standing by in case of a life-altering event.
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