From The Frontlines: This Year's Top Five Stories

It’s hard to describe this year’s stories in one word, but if I had to, it would be: chaos.

That was to be expected with the return of President Donald Trump and his administration going full speed with policies that were sure to enrage the Left. It is that rage that has kept me busy. While the disarray did not rise to the same level as it did in 2020, it is the closest it has ever been since that year.

That chaos certainly makes time go by fast, which is why it is hard to believe it is almost 2026. With the new year on the horizon, I wanted to give the top five stories I did in 2025.

One: The first on the list has to be the first major set of riots that I covered in Los Angeles back in June. I admit I was caught off-guard by it because I started vacation on the same day it started. I was eager to come back, so much so that I went to straight to Los Angeles from said vacation. It was surreal to see the riots spread from city to city that first week because it brought me right back to 2020. The mindset of, “We’re in this for the long haul.”

Year-End Giving

Before I continue to the countdown, I want to say, thank you for being a subscriber to my Substack. Having become an independent journalist at the end of this year has meant that every paid subscriber as either monthly, annual or supporting member has become crucial to the continuance of my work so thank you! For those that choose to upgrade to a supporting member, you will get additional videos shared with only you throughout the year. You can upgrade your subscription to founding member in your settings.

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2026 will undoubtedly continue to require that I be at the frontlines reporting on the on-going mayhem we have seen so far so every penny counts to continuing my work.

Two: While I obviously enjoy running around riots and protests, I was fortunate enough to tag along with DHS Sec. Kristi Noem to see how the Trump administration was working in South America. The most recent update relating to this story is that Chile, one of the countries we went to, just elected a right-wing candidate to the presidency and it will be much easier working with the new president on the issue of immigration. Coincidentally, Chile was my favorite country we, briefly, visited.

Three: It is still hard to believe Charlie Kirk is no longer with us. It has also been disheartening to see the subsequent infighting among conservatives as the movement tries to find its footing after such a devastating loss. How it ends, as usual, I don’t know. That said, being at Charlie’s memorial was important, even with the powerful mix of emotions. It was a field assignment that I truly wish did not need to take place.

Four: This one was exciting to write about because it showed how asking the Trump administration and following up, to make sure it was top of mind can, can pay off. This was the result of the recommendations we made to President Trump during a roundtable about Antifa. I was able to ask the White House about the progress a month after, leading to this a few weeks later.

Five: Like the first, the last story on this list was certainly a passion project. The Riot Squad goes international! This marked the first time I had to dodge rocks being thrown by the police. Similar to the United States, Latin America as a whole is going through significant changes and those changes bring my favorite word for one reason or another: chaos.