The Morning: 2024’s most popular stories

Plus, President Biden's regrets, a tsunami anniversary and Chrismukkah.

View in browser|nytimes.com December 26, 2024 Good morning. Today, we've got the most popular Times stories of the year. We're also covering President Biden's regrets, a tsunami anniversary and Chrismukkah. The New York Times Looking back By Lauren Jackson I am an editor for The Morning. This year had a lot of news. Not coincidently, it was also one in which people searched for relief from the news. They bought books, went on vacations and exercised. They read about tragic marriages. They speculated about the secrets of a royal family. The Times keeps track of what readers click on, which means editors can see what people find important — what they like, what they spend time with, what sparks their curiosity. Below are the most popular news stories this year, as determined by what drew the most readers. We also have a collection of our most popular feature stories and videos; a list of stories that readers spent the most time with; and the ones that readers shared the most with one another. The biggest stories These were the news articles that readers clicked the most. The presidential election On election night. Doug Mills/The New York Times Times readers closely follow presidential elections, but this campaign had several moments that landed near the top of the list: Donald Trump's victory (our No. 1 most clicked story of the year). President Biden's decision to exit the presidential race. The assassination attempt on Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania (many also watched a video of our photographer explaining how he captured an iconic image in the moment). Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts in a hush-money trial. A worm in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s brain. The UnitedHealthcare shooting Readers were particularly interested in reading about the suspect, Luigi Mangione, after the police caught him at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa. The Baltimore bridge collapse Readers closely followed the search for six construction workers who were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore when a massive cargo ship crashed into it in March. The men were later found dead. A royal cancer diagnosis After disappearing from public life earlier this year, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, announced that she had cancer. (She underwent treatment and says she is now cancer-free.) A solar eclipse In Mexico.  Luis Antonio Rojas for The New York Times Americans flocked to the so-called path of totality, shielded their eyes and gazed upward to witness an eclipse that traveled across the United States. (See the best photos from that day.) Conflict in the Middle East The war between Israel and Hamas remained intense all year. Readers were particularly interested in the news that Iran fired about 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, which raised the risk of a regional war, and in a video investigation of mass casualties that occurred as people crowded around aid trucks in Gaza. Storms Hurricane Milton's path across Florida and the Southeast. This video showing Hurricane Helene's trail of destruction in Asheville, N.C. Tragedies The death of Liam Payne, the 31-year-old former One Direction singer who fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. A profile of a couple in the Hamptons whose Instagram-perfect life collapsed in heartbreak, anger and a mountain of debt. The biggest features These were the most popular articles that were unrelated to the news. Julia Gartland for The New York Times The best 100 books of this century so far. The 52 places to go in 2024. The seven keys to longevity. The best sex advice. Oscar nominations. New York City's best restaurants. The stories that hooked you These were the stories that readers spent the most time with. Two couples discovered they were victims of an I.V.F. mix-up — after their daughters were born. Read about what they did next. A real estate queen had a secret she couldn't keep hidden. A Times writer's family friend was kidnapped at gunpoint decades ago. She explores how the victim went on with his life. The stories you shared The Times allows subscribers to share 10 stories a month with nonsubscribers. These were the ones they shared most. Do animals know they are going to die? A writer's description of what his dog taught him about mortality. How a single engineer stopped a huge cyberattack. Costco's hacking of the American shopping psyche. The rise in marijuana use in the U.S. and its increasing harms. The hotel guest who wouldn't leave. THE LATEST NEWS Politics President Biden Eric Lee/The New York Times Biden, with less than a month until his presidency ends, is reflective and voicing regrets. He will seek solace during a visit with Pope Francis next month. Trump is expected to end a boom in clean energy investment. Investors are watching closely. International Russian officials blamed birds for the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight that killed dozens of passengers. But Ukrainian officials and aviation experts told The Wall Street Journal that the plane was likely shot down by a Russian air defense system. In Ukraine, air-raid alarms and explosions sounded as Russian missiles and drones targeted the nation's energy infrastructure. In Gaza, five journalists were killed when an Israeli strike hit their vehicle, according to local officials. Twenty years ago today, the deadliest tsunami in recorded history inundated Asian countries and killed about 230,000 people. See photos from the tsunami. Other Big Stories Blondie, a big cat who died.  Twenty big cats, including a half-Bengal tiger and four cougars, died at a sanctuary in Washington State after becoming infected with bird flu. See photos from the first night of Hanukkah. Opinions Only a small fraction of communities in the U.S. are tsunami ready. Don't wait for a warning to evacuate, Costas Synolakis writes. Trump recently threatened to lock up political foes. Judges need to stand up to him, Nancy Gertner and Joel Cohen write. Ends soon: Our best rate on unlimited access for Morning readers. Save now with our best offer on unlimited news and analysis as part of the complete Times experience: $1/week for your first year. MORNING READS LeeAndra Cianci Christmas or Hanukkah: One family did both on the same day this year. They called it Chrismukkah. Retire? These seniors would rather jump out of a plane. Lives Lived: Richard Perry was a record producer and a reliable hitmaker who worked with Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand and the Pointer Sisters. He died at 82. SPORTS N.B.A.: Victor Wembanyama had 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and four blocks, but the Spurs still lost 117-114 to the Knicks. N.F.L.: The Chiefs, playing their third game in 11 days, clinched the No. 1 seed in the A.F.C. with a 29-10 win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. See our updated playoff field projections. ARTS AND IDEAS To attract bigger audiences, video game companies like Sony and Microsoft have invested billions in realistic graphics. However, in recent years, these upgrades have had diminishing returns: As games look better, the improvements are getting harder to notice. Some in the industry, which has been hit with layoffs this year, are wondering whether this longtime marketing tool is instead becoming a financial liability. More on culture Beyoncé David J. Phillip/Associated Press Beyoncé performed songs from her latest album for the first time during an N.F.L. game. Read our critic's recap. Photography is having a renaissance in New York galleries and beyond. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Christopher Testani for The New York Times Simmer leftover ham hock and dried beans for a hearty, comforting soup. Choose a good airplane movie. Improve your bread baking with these tools. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangrams were finagle and leafing. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018