Defining Moments of the Decade: WTF, 2010s

2018: Blue Wave

Democrats took the majority in the United States House of Representatives, gaining 40 seats, according to Politico. However, Republicans still hold the majority in the United States Senate.

The midterm elections brought in another wave of diversity with a record-breaking number of women, people of color, and LGBTQ representatives, Vox reported.

117 women were elected to Congress: 102 to the US House of Representatives, 15 to the US Senate. 23 freshmen legislators were people of color and there are now at least 10 Congressional representatives who identify as LGBTQ.

Singapore Summit

President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea held a historic summit in Singapore where they established plans to maintain peace and prosperity between the two countries in June 2018, says a joint statement on the White House website.

These plans included the denuclearization of the Korean Penninsula.

In an interview with White House communications specialist George Stephanopoulos, Trump said he and Kim Jong Un had formed a “special bond” and developed a “pretty good relationship in terms of getting something done.”

President Donald Trump sits down for an interview with White House communication specialist George Stephanopoulos

Source: Trump describes ‘special bond’ he’s formed with Kim Jong Un | ABC News

Kim Kardashian Visits the White House

Great meeting with @KimKardashian today, talked about prison reform and sentencing. pic.twitter.com/uOy4UJ41JF

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2018

Reality star Kim Kardashian West visited the White House to speak with Trump about prison reform in May 2018 – particularly to urge Trump to pardon Alicia Marie Johnson, a woman who has been in prison for two decades due to drug-related offenses and isn’t eligible for parole, CNBC reported.

Shortly after their meeting, Johnson’s sentence was commuted, according to an ABC News article.

“I feel like my life is starting over again,” Johnson said. “It’s a miracle day.”

Kardashian West visited the White House again in Sept. 2018 to seek clemency for Chris Young, another nonviolent drug offender sentenced to life in prison.

As this article is being written, Chris Young is still in prison, Buried Alive says.

Southern Border Apprehensions

396,579 were apprehended at the southern border of the United States in 2018, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics.

107,212 were apprehended in “family units” (the number of minors accompanied by a parent or legal guardian), but 50,036 children were apprehended without a parent or guardian.

A Vox article highlights what happens to these unaccompanied minors. They’re sent to the Office of Refugee Resettlement within 72 hours of being apprehended, where they spend days to weeks in government facilities or short-term foster care while ORR officials attempt to identify the nearest relative in the United States who can care for the child while their immigration case is being resolved.

California Wildfires

California had one of the worst wildfire seasons in 2018, according to the United States Bureau of Labor.

A total of 7,510 fires burned in an area of 1,671,313 acres, the largest acreage burned on record, as of Nov. 2018. The fires caused over $10 billion in damages.

“In fact, the 2018 wildfire season in California recorded the largest fire in acres burned, most destructive fire in property loss and deadliest fires in the state’s history,” the United States Department of Agriculture said in an article about wildfires becoming a year-round occurrence throughout the nation.

Here Comes the Sun

NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe on the first-ever mission to “touch” the sun on Aug. 12, 2018.

“The spacecraft, about the size of a small car, will travel directly into the Sun’s atmosphere about 4 million miles from the surface,” NASA explains.

The Parker Solar Probe has recently completed its second flyby of venus, NASA announced on Dec. 26, 2019.

Big Businesses Bust

Sears filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in Oct. 2018, after closing at least 188 of their stores, according to a USA Today article.

Read: The Downfall of Department Stores

The Burgundy Zine

Toys R Us closed their remaining stores in June 2018, CNBC reported.

For a time, the company left the following message posted on their website:

“Thanks to each of you who shared your amazing journey to (and through) parenthood with us, and to every grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, and sister who’s built a couch-cousin rocket ship, made up a hero adventure, or invented something gooey. Promise us just one thing: Don’t ever grow up. Play on!”

“Play On” Toys R Us | ABC News

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