Reflecting on the past year, cultural discussions include things that stuck with us in 2025, how Hollywood finally confronted our political moment, and a list of **the best children’s books of 2025**.
In music news, Hanukkah concerts with an Israeli military cantor raised an outcry in Amsterdam, while legendary rapper Slick Rick discussed his enduring British influence on his 40th anniversary.
As the holiday season progresses, New Yorkers shared their best and worst SantaCon stories, highlighting the polarizing nature of the festive bar crawl.