As the calendar turns the page on 2025, many Canadians are breathing a sigh of relief. While the year may not rank among history's absolute darkest chapters, political commentator Warren Kinsella argues it presented a uniquely modern set of challenges that made it a profoundly bad year, particularly on the global stage.
A Year of Relative Calm in Canada, Global Turmoil Elsewhere
Kinsella acknowledges that Canada itself experienced some positive developments. The country saw modest economic growth and a slight reduction in inflation. Contrary to fears, the aggressive tariffs imposed by the United States did not plunge Canada into a recession. The federal election proceeded without claims of being stolen, and no mobs stormed Parliament Hill. However, Kinsella notes with a touch of sports fan pain that the Toronto Blue Jays were "robbed."
Globally, however, the picture was far grimmer. While 2025 cannot compare to years like 1348 with the Black Death or 1918 with the Spanish Flu, Kinsella points to three interconnected reasons that defined its difficulty: the second presidency of Donald Trump, the concerning worldview of Generation Z, and a shocking, normalized resurgence of antisemitism.
The Trump Factor: Unpopularity and Global Instability
Kinsella identifies Donald Trump as a primary source of 2025's global anxieties. He characterizes Trump as "the most unpopular president of the Disunited States, pretty much ever." The commentary lists a litany of reasons for this assessment, including destructive trade tariffs, threatening rhetoric toward NATO allies like Canada, the unprecedented domestic use of the military, and the promotion of anti-science views.
The personal conduct of the president also drew sharp criticism. Kinsella highlights Trump's attack on actor Rob Reiner following Reiner's murder and his derogatory comments about women as examples of a deeply divisive and offensive leadership style. "In almost every way, on almost every day in 2025, Trump II has been the worst," writes Kinsella.
Generation Z: Anger, Conspiracy, and Support for Political Violence
Perhaps the most surprising and troubling trend of the year, according to Kinsella's research for an upcoming book on hate, is the attitude of Generation Z (those roughly aged 19 to 25). He describes them as "the most angry and hateful and conspiracy-minded demographic out there."
Polling data cited in the article reveals that nearly half of American Gen Z respondents expressed support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Similarly, in Canada, more than 40% of Gen Z—approximately three million people—sided with Hamas in the context of the Middle East conflict, with many opposing peace plans and even wanting Israel "ended."
More alarmingly, Kinsella references findings from CSIS and Gallup indicating a growing number of young people in North America favour the use of political violence or terrorism to achieve goals and are deeply cynical about democratic institutions.
The Normalization of Jew-Hatred in 2025
The third pillar of 2025's distress, Kinsella argues, was the widespread and brazen resurgence of antisemitism. He contends the term has lost its impact due to its ubiquity, particularly among Gen Z activists who "just shrug when called antisemites."
Despite achieving sought-after ceasefires in the Middle East, Kinsella observes that anti-Israel protesters continued their demonstrations. He criticizes the response of Western governments, including Canada's, as one of "indifference, a collective shrug," particularly noting Canada's recognition of a Palestinian state led by a group it considers terrorist.
The situation in the United States was no better, with Kinsella accusing the MAGA movement of ushering antisemites into its coalition. He singles out Vice-President JD Vance for "conspicuously refusing to condemn" figures like Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Tucker Carlson for their rhetoric, thereby emboldening prejudice.
In conclusion, while 2025 was not the worst year in human history, Warren Kinsella's analysis presents it as a year where toxic politics, generational anger, and ancient hatreds converged to create a period of significant global tension and moral challenge, making its passing a welcome event for many.
