Matthew Riva

Women shaped culture—and more There’s no avoiding it: This was the year of Taylor Swift. Whether you’re a lifelong Swiftie or just trying to watch some football, you undoubtedly felt her presence this year. (Travis Kelce certainly did.) It’s not just the music or the movies, either—It’s Taylor Swift’s economy, and we’re all living in it. Taylor wasn’t the only pop megastar with a stadium tour, concert film and huge culture influence this year, though.

War in the Middle East. The housing market. Eras Tour dates being added! There’s a lot going on in the world. Get up to speed quickly and be better equipped for dealing with difficult relatives and conversations around the dinner table. Although these types of drugs were originally meant to treat Type 2 diabetes, they are now widely used for weight loss. Thousands of Americans inject them weekly to cut pounds—and are seeing success.

Trying to cut salt The Healthy, Hunger‐Free Kids Act of 2010 updated nutrition requirements in several areas that had not previously been touched, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a food and health watchdog organization. One notable addition was a tapered reduction in the amount of salt in school breakfasts and lunches. Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune/Getty