Here's why 2025 didn't totally suck

2025 won't be remembered as the year for love, peace and harmony. War and military attacks were happening everywhere - from the Ukraine to the Middle East to Venezuela to Nigeria. Natural disasters like wildfires and floods swept the U.S. And not only did we lose beloved celebrities like Diane Keaton, Robert Redford and Ozzy Osbourne, other popular figures - from Rob and Michele Reiner to Charlie Kirk to Melissa and Mark Hortman - died in devastating ways that shocked the world. Political differences polarized Americans with increasing intensity, AI made us increasingly unsure what was even real, social media became a toxic wasteland, and millions were facing the loss of health insurance at year's end as a result of the expiration of ACA subsidies. We could go on and on, but we know you lived through it, too. So this week your hosts of "How We Heard It" decided to highlight some positive things about 2025 with lists of the year's best songs and albums and movies and TV shows. They were riveted by movies like "One Battle After Another," "Sinners" and "Weapons" and intrigued by films like "Nuremburg," "Companion" and "Good Boy." On the small screen, your hosts were thrilled by "IT: Welcome to Derry" and "Alien: Earth," challenged by "The Bear" and "White Lotus" and tickled by "The English Teacher" and a revived "South Park." Musically, Kendrick Lamar and SZA teamed up on a sizzling tribute to Luther Vandross, the U.K.'s Wet Leg brought back rowdy alt-rock excitement, and Taylor Swift may have saved us from the fate of Ophelia. It was almost enough to inspire them to do that little Swiftie dance. If they could dance.