2024 in Review: AI Advancements, Climate Challenges, and Global Events Shape a Transformative Year

Opinion | Farewell, Chevron deference and internet subsidies. Hello, climate change and AI.

2024 was more than just an election year. This is how some readers will remember it. We asked readers what events other than the presidential election they thought the year will remembered for. These are some of their answers. Farewell, Chevron deference The momentous decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo overturned the long-standing doctrine that, when a federal statute is ambiguous, the courts should defer to the interpretation of the agency that administers the statute. Because most statutes are ambiguous in some way, the old Chevron doctrine gave tremendous power to agencies to craft detailed regulations that interpreted the statutes. Now, the courts will decide. In every corner of American life, from employment to discrimination to the environment to defense, far more of U.S. law will be decided by federal courts, despite their having little expertise in these fields. By the middle of the century, we might well conclude that this was the most important change in American law in recent history. Paul Boudreaux, Takoma Park The most important event in 2024 was the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the Chevron deference doctrine. The conservative majority defied precedent once again by declaring that the judicial branch no longer defers to the established rulemaking authority of federal agencies when interpreting the law. Will this interpretation be consistently applied to the executive branch? The decision opened a Pandora's box of confusion that will likely have consequences for generations. Goodbye to judicial restraint, certainty, and perhaps to the legitimacy of the courts and agencies, as well. Jeff Riordan, Lynnwood, Washington AI turns a corner Artificial intelligence happened. This wasn't a single event, but the technology seemed to turn a corner this year and has now started arriving in our everyday lives (my new iPhone 16 Pro, for example). Even though this technology is covered extensively, we still aren't giving nearly enough attention to AI. The Post and other newspapers of record should be aggressive about educating the public on both the benefits and dangers of this new technology. It's vital to do so. David Burns, South Jordan, Utah A failure to act The most important "event" of 2024 that didn't get enough public attention but will be recorded 100 years from now as a vital part of human history is our global failure to adequately address and redress climate change. In the face of accelerated species extinction, biospheric disruptions, disastrous geographic alterations and the human political and economic chaos resulting from it, we have lacked substantive action. We are at a make-or-break point in history regarding this issue. Internationally, conference after conference yielded little progress. Internally, nations largely ignored the issue. Individually, though entire populations are already suffering, we pushed it aside. This collective failure will be recorded as a vital part of history in generations hence. That is, if we are around to record it. James Harris, Chesterland, Ohio No havens Hurricane Helene got lots of coverage, and rightly so. It was a dramatic demonstration of the fact that there is no safe place when it comes to climate change. The area around Asheville, North Carolina, was once seen as a climate haven. It hadn't experienced the kind of droughts, wildfires, heat waves, atmospheric rivers, hurricanes and tornadoes that we see so often in other parts of the country. But then the Gulf of Mexico warmed, and a supercharged hurricane managed to find its way from the gulf all the way up into the Appalachian Mountains. Helene was a flashing-red signal that we are all in the danger zone now. Bob Braddock, Asheville, North Carolina For me, wildfires in the Northeast and New England stand out. To see wildfires on the border of New York and New Jersey was mind-boggling. Yet another reminder that climate change is here, damaging our only home planet. Climate refugees cross borders in attempts to find habitable places to live, fleeing places where global warming has wrecked both the landscape and civilized society. There is daily proof that humans are an invasive species and that we won't stop wrecking the planet because the wealthy can profit from its destruction. Andrea Avni, Vashon Island, Washington Navalny's death Alexei Navalny's death will be a vital part of history 100 years from now. While it did get attention from the media, his killing and the ultimate geopolitical fallout resulting from Russian President Vladimir Putin's desire for world dominance remain to be fully explored. Gerry Horan, Alexandria And upheaval in the Middle East The disablement of Hezbollah in Lebanon by Israel not only destroyed Hezbollah and its middle management and junior officers through the pager attacks but also prevented Hezbollah from continuing to destabilize Lebanon and prop up the Assad regime in Syria. A 54-year dictatorship fell in Syria in part because of actions outside the country. This change in the Syrian regime has also set Russia back by curtailing its influence in the Middle East and Africa. It restricts Russia's interventions in Africa by removing its Mediterranean navy base (in Tartus) and its air base (Hmeimim air base) used to resupply African client states. The reduced Hezbollah influence is freeing both Syria and Lebanon and cuts Iran's regional influence by eliminating two of its largest proxies in Lebanon and Syria. Jeffrey Sachs, Springfield The most important event in the past year was Israel's dismantling of Hamas in Gaza and defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Those twin military campaigns have pushed back Iran's axis of terror, giving hope that the Lebanese government will be able to regain control of their country and that the people of Gaza will one day soon be free of Hamas control, enabling the residents to prosper and live in peace. Avraham Moskowitz, West Hempstead, New York With sweeping consequences The most important event of 2024 was democracies demonstrating that they are militarily strong enough to defeat autocracies and their proxies. Many people heaped scorn and blame on Israel and the United States for taking on Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and their supporters. But the results show that autocracies are paper tigers. Indeed, Syrian rebels swiftly defeated a weak, demoralized Syrian regime. As a result, the balance of power in the Middle East has realigned for the better, and American allies in the Middle East -- from Saudi Arabia to Jordan to Egypt -- will surely benefit. With Hezbollah's curtailed power, Lebanon has a better chance of restoring its governance and prosperity. The shifting balance of power might also give Iran pause in the country's development of nuclear weapons. These developments will shape the Middle East for a long time. Joshua Bar-Lev, Portland, Oregon Troubling sign for aspiring first-time homeowners In the realm of housing, there were landmark lawsuits resulting in the National Association of Realtors agreeing to dismantle the commission structure for agents. The former system allowed buyers' agents to help home purchasers navigate their purchases while being paid by the selling side of the transaction. The fact that buyers must now agree to pay out of pocket means that many buyers, especially first-time buyers, will not have representation. Due to the confusion caused by this new arrangement, many agents might choose not to work with first-time buyers in the same way many attorneys choose not to work with clients who are unable to post a retainer payment up front. This could greatly impact housing access in 2025 and the years ahead. Dick Stoner, Rockville The end of affordable rural internet It was a major event for me and my family when Congress let the Affordable Connectivity Program lapse in May. To the more than 23 million low-income households such as mine that depended on the monthly subsidy to afford high-speed internet connections, this was a kick in the head. Our monthly internet bill jumped, as members of Congress were warned it would. A middle-class family losing an extra $30 a month might not seem like a big deal, but to the millions of low-income people who lost the subsidy, it was. Tom Wakely, Deming, New Mexico And a wake-up call on health-care costs This year will be remembered for the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson and the conversation that followed about the desperate need for a government-funded medical insurance program for all Americans. Americans pay roughly twice as much for health care per person as people do in other large, wealthy countries. Our health-care system also ranks worst among 11 high-income countries, despite spending the highest proportion of our gross domestic product on health care compared with peer nations. The president, Senate and House of Representatives need to work together on this issue. Rising health-care costs have forced many Americans to lose their home, car and even declare bankruptcy. Is that a reality we are willing to accept? Walter Wilson, Chicago Growing fan club for women's sports Culturally, over the past year in the United States, there has been growing interest and viewership for women's sports. So much so that professional women's leagues are looking to expand and receive the media coverage they deserve. Fascination with athletes such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Trinity Rodman and Ilona Maher has encouraged franchises and networks alike to invest more significantly in women's sports, even outside of the Olympic level. Shannon Boyne, Columbus, Ohio

Opinion | 24 good things that happened in 2024

We will remember these silver linings going into the New Year. Many might remember 2024 for global conflict. Coupled with a polarizing U.S. election marked by apparent attempted assassinations of Donald Trump, good news seemed sparse. Yet, following long-standing tradition, we took on the challenge of finding 24 good things that happened this year. Our annual search for positive events only gets trickier as time goes on -- in large part because the list must grow by one item each year. But we always end up with more than we have room for. We hope our list brings you some end-of-year optimism, too. 1. Pandas are back in Washington. Nearly a year after D.C.'s last giant pandas returned to China, Qing Bao and Bao Li journeyed 8,000 miles to relocate to Washington. The pair are set to make their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo in the new year, but they're already bringing plenty of delight to some of our readers. 2. The biggest election year in history. More than 4 billion people -- about half the world's population -- live in countries where major elections took place this year. Unfortunately, not all 2024 elections could be called "free and fair," with particularly concerning results in Venezuela and Georgia. Still, more positive examples of popular sovereignty came in India and South Africa, among other places, where voters forced coalition governments rather than simply ratifying incumbent parties. 3. Many firsts for diversity in Congress. Follow Editorial Board Follow The results of Election Day in the United States were understandably unnerving to many. Yet the election was secure, free and fair. And there were many firsts for diversity in Congress: Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester will be the first woman and person of color to represent Delaware in the Senate. Angela D. Alsobrooks, also a Democrat, will be the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the chamber. The pair will be the first Black women to serve together in the Senate. Andy Kim (D-New Jersey) will be the country's first Korean American senator, and Delaware voters elected the first openly transgender member of Congress, Sarah McBride. 4. The popularity of women's sports soared. Diversity had its moment in sports, too. Caitlin Clark grew WNBA viewership to historic levels. And women's rugby had its viral moment thanks to Ilona Maher and the rest of Team USA's first-ever Olympic medal in the sport. 5. The Olympics were more competitive. More nations earned places on the podium during this year's Olympic Games in Paris -- a promising sign for growing global prosperity. Plus, a record 15.4 million viewers watched the Paris Paralympic Games. 6. Notre Dame was repaired. The bells of Notre Dame rang again, marking the return of a much-visited landmark more than five years after flames engulfed it. The cathedral's reconstruction is a symbol of resilience, and the site is as stunning as ever. 7. Vladimir Kara-Murza, Evan Gershkovich and others were released from Russian captivity. Though the prisoner swap that freed these detained individuals should never have been necessary, the long-overdue releases brought much relief to their families and supporters around the world. We were especially elated by the liberation of our Pulitzer Prize-winning contributing columnist Mr. Kara-Murza and fellow journalist Mr. Gershkovich. 8. In South Korea, democracy survived a tough test. President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of "emergency martial law" attempted to subvert the country's democratic processes -- and was fortunately short-lived. In addition to widespread protests, politicians came together to swiftly quell the constitutional crisis. 9. Sweden joined NATO. Sweden's entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization follows Finland's last year. Both additions make for a stronger NATO, which remains critical as Russia's war against Ukraine escalates. 10. Bashar al-Assad's regime fell. No year would be complete without some 11th-hour surprises -- and the fall of the Syrian president's regime came as a shock to many. Though the country's future remains foggy, the fall of Mr. Assad's brutal government resulted in the liberation of thousands held in Syria's notorious prisons. 11. Thailand legalized same-sex marriage. Amid global backsliding on LGBTQ+ rights, Thailand voted to legalize same-sex marriage, making it the first country in Southeast Asia to do so. 12. A total solar eclipse helped us pause for a moment. It's no secret that we are fascinated by space and humans' relationship with it. Millions of people around the United States joined us this year, flocking to the eclipse's path to catch a glimpse of the rare event. (Another total solar eclipse won't cross the United States for two decades.) 13. NASA launched a probe to investigate Europa. This year, NASA sent off the Europa Clipper -- the largest robotic probe the agency has built -- on a 5½-year journey to Jupiter's most interesting moon. Perhaps in our "30 good things from 2030" roundup, we will be able to celebrate its successful arrival into Jupiter's orbit. 14. In a boost for nuclear energy, the Advance Act passed. By addressing a number of regulatory hurdles, the new law is a promising step toward reviving a floundering U.S. nuclear industry, which the world will probably need to fight climate change. Plus, it demonstrates how lawmakers of both parties can find common ground in addressing both growing energy demands and climate concerns. 15. Artificial intelligence proved invaluable to health care. In many industries, 2024 was the year AI became mainstream. Many studies released this year suggested just how potent the tool could be in health-care settings, particularly at improving accuracy, lowering costs and generating a new generation of treatments. 16. The U.S. economy is doing better than it feels. In what is probably a covid-19 pandemic holdover, the country's economic mood has been less than cheery. But the good news is that the U.S. economy is in better shape than public sentiment suggests. Wages have grown faster than inflation every month, unemployment is low, and productivity is trending up. 17. Youth vaping fell to its lowest level in a decade. With millions of young people still consuming nicotine products regularly, the drug's use remains a public health crisis. But recent federal surveys show trends in the right direction as regulators work to close loopholes and enforce rules against marketing flavored vapes to youths. 18. The obesity crisis might have plateaued. Federal government data released in September shows that the obesity epidemic might have stopped worsening. These recent numbers, coupled with advances in injectable medications used for weight loss and Type 2 diabetes treatment, offer a reason for hope. 19. And overdose deaths declined sharply. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose deaths fell 17 percent in a one-year period. 20. More states moved to ban legacy admissions. The decades-long push to end the practice of giving a leg up to the children of university alumni gained traction this year as Virginia and Illinois passed laws phasing out legacy preferences in public university admissions. Maryland and California went one step further, banning the practice at private universities, too. A number of other states considered similar legislation. 21. Communities came together after deadly hurricanes. This year, disaster struck even "climate haven" cities as Hurricanes Helene and Milton barreled inland and claimed hundreds of lives. In inspiring displays of resilience, communities across North Carolina and neighboring states have come together to weather a long recovery. 22. President Joe Biden issued an official apology for the government's role in Indian boarding schools. A Post investigation found more than 3,100 students died at schools built to extinguish Native American cultures -- more than three times as many deaths as the Interior Department had reported. 23. Washington rediscovered the uniting power of its own football team. The Commanders' unexpected turnaround brought local fans back to the stands and some much-needed optimism to the D.C. region. 24. Ranked-choice voting prevailed in Alaska. Alaskan voters demonstrated that ranked-choice voting is neither a partisan reform nor a passing fad. Going into the new year, we hope other states will resolve to learn from their successful system.