The biggest stories of the decade according to you – NBC News
We asked: What do you think are the biggest stories of the past decade? Here's what NBC News and MSNBC readers and viewers shared. We'll be updating this graphic through the end of 2019.
Numbers indicate the number of submissions per story.
Donald J. Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential election was nothing short of a political earthquake and the aftershocks continue to rock the lives of Americans. The real estate developer and former reality television star has virtually monopolized headlines for nearly every day of his presidency, thrilling his supporters and alarming his critics with hard-right policy moves, incendiary rhetoric and a freewheeling Twitter feed.
Trump, who is gearing up for re-election in 2020, has already reshaped the landscape with a massive tax cut, sweeping changes to immigration rules, and the consolidation of the conservative majority on the Supreme Court. No matter the outcome of Novembers election, Trump has unequivocally redefined the presidency for many years to come.
Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings.
Washington may be divided on the correct response to global warming, but huge swaths of people across the world, from progressive political leaders to average citizens and activists, are convinced that climate change represents the gravest and most pressing threat to the planet. Whats more, many scientists expect that the issue caused by the burning of coal, oil and gas could get far worse by the end of the century.
Trump, for his part, has announced his intention to pull out of the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. But people in states and cities across the United States and many parts of the world remain committed to curbing greenhouse gas emissions and continue to push for more comprehensive action. Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, meanwhile, emerged this year as a global conscience for environmental activism. (She also made the cut for the biggest story of the decade as chosen by NBC News readers and viewers).
America's intelligence agencies agree: Russian President Vladimir Putin's government meddled in the 2016 presidential election, aiming to sow social discord and boost Trump's anti-establishment candidacy. The interference campaign, with tactics ranging from fake news and digital disinformation to the hacking of the Democratic National Committee, have been heavily dissected and hotly debated throughout much of Trump's time in the Oval Office.
Russian election interference, characterized by some as an unprecedented subversion of American democracy, was also one of the focal points of former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible ties between Trump campaign associates and Putin's government. Mueller ultimately found no proof that Trump criminally colluded with Russia, but senior officials continue to sound the alarm about Russia's plans for 2020.
The fourth-biggest story of the decade is still being written: Earlier this month, Trump became only the third president in U.S. history to be impeached after the Democratic-led House of Representatives charged him with committing high crimes and misdemeanors. The process will eventually move to a trial in the GOP-controlled Senate.
Democrats accuse Trump of violating his oath of office in pressuring Ukraine to announce investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter while withholding some $400 million in aid, as well as obstructing Congress by refusing to release any documents related to his actions. Trump, who has angrily pushed back against the Houses proceedings, now becomes the first president to run for re-election after being impeached.
Barack Obamas re-election in 2012 cemented his barrier-breaking place in history and symbolized the dramatic cultural changes of the decade. Obamas second term in the White House was often hindered by fierce GOP opposition in Congress, although he notched a series of progressive victories, including signing the Paris Agreement, reaching a nuclear deal with Iran and negotiating rapprochement with Cuba.
But simmering domestic unrest, including the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and mounting anger in many parts of the world over the unequal recovery from the global financial crisis frequently tested the limits of Obamas political appeal. The resurgence of anti-establishment populism in his final months in office Brexit, Trumps election also threatened to erode much of his legacy.
And yet for many Americans, Obama remains an inspirational figure admired for his soaring rhetoric, steady leadership and history-making ascent to the White House.
Robin Muccari is a data visualizations and graphics designer for NBC News Digital.
Daniel Arkin is a reporter for NBC News.
Read the original here:
The biggest stories of the decade according to you - NBC News
- Michelle Obama and Gretchen Whitmer Disagree on Americas Readiness for a Female President - The New York Times - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama issues brutal verdict on whether Barack should run for president again - The Independent - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama explains her comments that the US wasnt ready for a female president - CNN - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Barack Obama, Where the F--k Are You? - The Daily Beast - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Former first lady Michelle Obama said on a popular podcast that she would actively work against her husband, Barack, running for a hypothetical third... - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama pans possibility of third term for presidents: 8 years is enough - The Hill - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Says She Would 'Actively Work Against' Another Barack Presidency if Term Limits Were Changed - People.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Slams Critics for Putting Women in Their Place by Attacking Their Physical Being - Yahoo - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Celebrates 62nd Birthday in a Vest Held Together by a Safety Pin for Surprise 'Call Her Daddy' Appearance - instyle.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- New court doc asserts former Obama WH counsel advised Jeffrey Epstein during critical reputational and legal battles - CNN - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Sits Down With Call Her Daddy to Talk Fashion, Scrutiny, and Looking Beyond Appearance - Harper's BAZAAR - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama would 'actively work against' a hypothetical third term from Barack, she says - New York Post - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama is asked if Barack would run again if Trump changed the law - The Independent - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Reveals What She'd Want Her Husband To Do If Trump Ran For A Third Term - HuffPost - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Admits That She Used to Want Husband Barack to "Be Different" - instyle.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Reveals Why She Wouldnt Want Husband Barack to Be President Again - Entertainment Tonight - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Doesnt Want Barack to Run for a Third Term Says She Would Work Against It' - Inquisitr News - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama says she would 'actively work against' Barack running for hypothetical third term - Fox News - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Reacts to Criticism of Her Appearance During Time as First Lady - E! Online - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Makes Huge Confession About First Meeting With Husband Barack - Reality Tea - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Video Jesse Williams on documentarys connection from basketball to Obama and MLK - ABC News - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Marks Her Birthday on Instagramand Fans Immediately Zero In on One Thing - Parade - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama says she would 'actively' discourage her husband from running again - Yahoo - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama reveals how her looks were criticised during time as First Lady - tyla.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Trump has unfinished business in Iran -- he must do better than Obama and take action for the protesters' sake - New York Post - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- The Nobel Prize committee doesn't want Trump getting one, even as a giftbut they treated Obama very differently - Fortune - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Vinson Cunningham on Barry Blitts Obama Fist Bump Cover - The New Yorker - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Barack Obama shares loving birthday tribute to wife, Michelle, on her 62nd birthday - ABC News - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Barack and Michelle Obama's Rare Family Photos with Daughters Sasha and Malia - People.com - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Celebrated on Her 62nd Birthday by Husband Barack - People.com - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Relationship tip of the day: Michelle Obama reveals the hard truth that saved her marriage - 'I had to le - Times of India - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Barack Obama Shares a Heartfelt Tribute to Michelle Obama to Mark Her 62nd Birthday: "I Love You, Miche" - instyle.com - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MICHELLE OBAMA! Former US president Barack Obama penned a sweet birthday message to his wife, Michelle Obama, on Sunday. "Happy... - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Obama Presidential Center to feature major work by East Lansing-raised artist Julie Mehretu - WKAR - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Help Wanted at the Obama Presidential Center - The Wall Street Journal - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Celebrated on Her 62nd Birthday by Husband Barack - AOL.com - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Drowning in noise: A warning from Project Censored and President Obama - Illinois Times - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Meeting This Morning Proposes Painting Over the Image of Barack Obama at Chamizal Park - El Paso Herald Post - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Barack Obama's Birthday Post For Michelle Proves They Have What Donald And Melania Never Will - thelist.com - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Whole milk set to return to school cafeterias after Trump reverses Obama-era act - The Independent - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Sasha Obama shows off effortless street-style look with the perfect winter skirt - HOLA - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Inside Michelle Obama's most transformative fashion year yet as she turns 62 - HELLO! Magazine - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- An Obama Judges Absurd Reasoning for Restoring Funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics - National Review - January 18th, 2026 [January 18th, 2026]
- Malia Obama makes clogs cool with cropped pants and a colorful sweater - HOLA - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Iran is on fire, and Trump will not turn away as Obama did - JNS.org - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Obama had just won elections ...build a small inner circle,Not admirers.Truth tellers... On the morning of November 5, 2008, at exactly 6:00 a.m.,... - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Trump continues to fume over Obama winning the Nobel Prize as organization reminds him award can't be transferred - TheGrio - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Make Michelle Obama's White & Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies that beat Ann Romney's in 2012 - HOLA - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Trump repeats claim of stopping India-Pakistan conflict, says Obama didn't do anything to win Nobel - The Hindu - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Barack Obama More Popular with Young Men Than Joe Rogan or Donald Trump - Newsweek - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- As the Obama Center nears completion, a long-neglected Jackson Park pavilion finally getting its due - Chicago Sun-Times - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Stanwood woman's photos of her late mother finally headed to Obama museum, forging bond over shared loss - KING5.com - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- MPS said it took disciplinary action after Dec. 16 Bay View-Obama basketball fight - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Germany eavesdropped on some Obama calls from Air Force One, book says - The Washington Post - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- With President Obama Setting an Example, a Princeton Writer Resolves to Make Some Small, Doable Changes in the New Year - TAPinto - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- I Can't Believe I'm Saying This But A Fox News Host Just Took Back What They Said About Michelle Obama - Yahoo - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- The Obama Presidential Center Begins Its Newest Installation, and Other News - surfacemag.com - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Obama Foundation Kicks Off Hiring for 150 New Full-Time Career Opportunities at the Obama Presidential Center - lawndalenews.com - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Ex-Obama Adviser Reviews RFK Jr.s Food Pyramidthe Good, Bad, and Missing - Newsweek - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- The Obama Center is Hiring For More Than 150 Positions Right Now - Secret Chicago - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Sasha Obama's Athleisure Look Checks All the Accessory Boxes - Teen Vogue - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Laura Ingraham Admits Michelle Obama Was 'Right' After Trump Administration Unveils New Dietary Guidelines: 'Take It Back' - AOL.com - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Obama Presidential Center Seeks To Fill Over 150 Full-Time Roles As It Prepares To Open In Chicago - AfroTech - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Promotes The Look In Thom Browne - Yahoo - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Puts an Unexpected Twist on the Office Siren Trend in a Gem Bedazzled Skirt Suit - instyle.com - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Ex-gay gospel singer who performed for Obama allegedly raped & molested his male assistant - LGBTQ Nation - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Germanys BND wiretapped Barack Obama for years without Merkels approval - AnewZ - January 9th, 2026 [January 9th, 2026]
- Quote of the day by Barack Obama: 'The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and' - Times of India - January 4th, 2026 [January 4th, 2026]
- From the Obama Center to Google's Chicago HQ, here's what's happening architecturally in 2026 - WBEZ Chicago - January 4th, 2026 [January 4th, 2026]
- Crowds hail mayor Zohran Mamdani: Ive not felt like this since Obama - The Times - January 4th, 2026 [January 4th, 2026]
- From the Obama Center to Google's Chicago HQ, what's happening architecturally in 2026 - Chicago Sun-Times - January 4th, 2026 [January 4th, 2026]
- A bit of a Palaver from the novelist praised by Obama - The Times - January 4th, 2026 [January 4th, 2026]
- The real reason why Maya Rudolphs SNL skit with Barack Obama was yanked off air - New York Post - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- An Atlanta toy store will be featured in the Obama Presidential Center opening next year - WABE - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- Kumail Nanjiani responds to viral rumor of affair with Michelle Obama - Times of India - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- Maya Rudolph reveals what Barack Obama told her after unaired SNL sketch: 'Still don't know what that means' - Entertainment Weekly - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- Maya Rudolph Reveals Why SNL Pulled Her Infamous Barack Obama Sketch from the Show - People.com - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- Hollywood Actor Responds to Report Alleging Affair With Michelle Obama - Inquisitr News - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- Military Quote of the Day by President Barack Obama: 'I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is...' - 19FortyFive - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- Marvel Actor Addresses Bizarre Rumor Hes Michelle Obamas Lover - The Daily Beast - December 29th, 2025 [December 29th, 2025]