We gathered 50 of our top stories from the last year, a year in which momentous change took place both in the city and across the world. The Indy was there to cover it all, from continued protest against Israel waging genocide in Gaza, the escalation of MAGA and Trump 2.0’s campaign of cruelty, to the rise of Zohran Mamdani to become New York City’s first socialist and first Muslim mayor. Amidst it all, we also celebrated our 25th anniversary: 25 years of independent, service-oriented, unapologetically leftist, journalism.

There will be more to cover in 2026, especially with the beginning of the Mamdani administration, and we want to continue growing — but we need help to do it. We’re currently in the middle of our annual winter fund drive and are about one third of our way to reaching our goal of $50,000. It’s only the support of readers that makes this kind of journalism possible. By clicking here you can make a generous one-time contribution or become a monthly sustainer and spread your support out across the year. Even if you can only give $1, it will go towards supporting the kind of journalism that doesn’t answer to corporate interests and is unabashed in its reporting coverage.

In solidarity,

The staff of The Indypendent

New York City Politics

Zohran Mamdani’s Path to Victory by John Tarleton

A Green New Deal for NYC Is Ready to Take Root Under a Mamdani administration by Nancy Romer and Ashley Dawson 

In the Heart of the “Commie Corridor” by Elsie Carson-Holt

Why I Joined the DSA by Lindsay Boylan

Diana Moreno Enters Race for Zohran Mamdani’s Queens Assembly Seat Vowing to Put Children First by John Tarleton

Street Socialism Is Coming to a Neighborhood Near You by Nicholas Powers

How the Race Was Won by Elle Bisgaard-Church

Eric Adams, One Last Time by John Teufel

The Political Fight for Southern Brooklyn’s Russian-Speakers by Nicole Krishtul 

“I Love Talking to My Neighbors”: Zohran Volunteers Share Canvassing Stories by John Tarleton

Young and Old March Together Against the Gov. Hochul and the Williams-NESE Pipeline by Vaugn Vial

Palestine and Anti-Zionism

‘People Are Speaking in Whispers’ by Amba Guerguerian 

Gaza Looms Large Over Sunset Park City Council Race  By Ted Hamm

Gaza Encampments Documentary Delivers a Clear Message: The Kids Are Alright by Sam Alcoff  

Inside the Sit-in That Rocked Barnard College by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel 

New Book Unpacks How Zionism is Mythologized in Hasbara by Eleanor Bader

Protests Grow Against Events Marketing Real Estate in Illegal Zionist Settlements by Amba Guerguerian 

‘He’s Not Going to Be Disappeared in Silence’ by Tanya Raghu 

AIPAC Lite Targets Shahana Hanif  by Theodore Hamm

Housing

Chelsea NYCHA Residents Dig In Against City’s Demolition Plans by Ella Spitz 

Evict the Landlord by Elsie Carson-Holt

When Tenants Unite by Ella Spitz 

Culture

Go to the Movies with Mira Nair by Manvi Jalan

A Revolutionary Fantasy That Speaks to Our Current Descent into Despotism by Michael Kanyongolo

The Life of a Showgirl and the Death of Taylor Swift’s Politics  By Nina Smith 

 Sarah Aziza’s New Memoir Is ‘Poetic and Incisive’ by Eleanor J. Bader

Rucker Park: From Streetball Jewel to National Treasure by Janavi Kumar

“Bugonia” and the False Promises of Conspiracy and Corporate Culture by Michael Kanyongolo

National Politics

Under Trump 2.0, Most Black Americans Have Nowhere to Run by Nicholas Powers

The Right Wing’s Goal of Repealing the 20th Century Is Now Within Reach. Who Will Stop Them? by John Tarleton

Mamdani Victory Likely to Boost Leftist Candidate in Minneapolis Mayoral Race by Clint Combs 

 The Jokerification of American Liberals by Cole Sandick 

 What is Antifa? by Renee Feltz

The Wall Separating Church and State is Rapidly Crumbling by Michael Steven Smith

Immigration Rights and Criminal Justice

Who Killed Maria Hernandez? by Theodore Hamm

The Immigrants’ Rights Movement Needs to Remember its Labor Roots: Jan. 20 is a Good Day to Start by Rodrigo Camarena 

Daniel Penny and the Rise of MAGA Long Island by John Teufel

As Corporate Sponsorships Dwindle, Queer Liberation Marches On By Eve Moschitto 

My View from the Back of the Ambulance by Lane Dibbler

Labor

Adams Continues Chaos For Deliveristas  by Eva Moschitto 

Interview: How The Indie Amazon Labor Documentary “Union” Self-Distributed by Nicky Yeager

 Alamo Drafthouse Workers Respond to Mass Layoffs by Adrita Talukder  

Brooklyn Museum Walks Back Layoffs by Felipe Jimenez

Education

CUNY Faculty Union Leads Rally Denouncing the ‘New McCarthyism’ Being Wielded Against U.S. Universities by Nina Berman

 Extra! Extra! High School Journalism Makes a Comeback by Elsie Carson-Holt

Educators Should Be AI Antagonists by Ben Mankoff 

The Indypendent is a New York City-based newspaper and website. Our independent, grassroots journalism is made possible by readers like you.