2018 In Review: Big League Highlights From An Incredible Year
Every calendar year comes with global headlines that put readers on the edge of their seats. 2018 was certainly no exception, from President Trump’s landmark summit with Kim Jong Un to the passage of the First Step Act, a landmark effort to reform the criminal justice system.
Here are some of the biggest.
Pennsylvania bans fraternity
AP Photo
Four years after the deadly hazing of a Baruch College freshman, Pi Delta Psi, a fraternity, was banned for 10 years from operating in Pennsylvania by a state judge.
The judge’s ruling came as a result of state prosecutors and the attorney general, Joshua Shapiro, pursuing criminal charges against the fraternity.
Pi Delta Psi was found guilty of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter.
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Overall, fraternities have rarely been criminally prosecuted over hazing deaths of students, and experts nationwide describe the ruling as one of the most stringent punishments ever given in such a case.
Steve Bannon gets Ousted from Everything
AP Photo
Stephen K. Bannon left his post as executive chairman of Breitbart News, ending his tenure with the conservative news site that he helped lead – a role which put him in the spotlight, leading to his appointment as chief strategist to President Trump.
Bannon left Breitbart in August 2016 to join the Trump campaign and presidency but was ousted roughly a year later.
Hawaii false missile alert
Reuters
A false alert sent to electronic devices across the island of Hawaii warned of an incoming ballistic missile from North Korea.
The Federal Communications Commission opened a “full investigation into what happened” when a Hawaii Emergency Management Agency worker sent the alert as a result of what Gov. David Ige said was a human error: a worker who “pushed the wrong button” during a shift change at the state’s emergency command post.
The incident was the most serious error of the Wireless Emergency Alerts system since it went live in 2012, in an attempt to modernize the nation’s decades-old approach of using radio and television alerts to notify the general public about the weather, safety, and other hazards.
Congressional lawmakers liable for payouts related to sexual misconduct
AP Photo
Following the passage of a bi-partisan piece of legislation, Congressional lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives can no longer use public funds for monetary settlements in cases of sexual misconduct.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers, including Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, supported the legislation.
The #MeToo movement has brought down a slew of powerful men, from Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein to CBS chairman Les Moonves to NBC anchor Matt Lauer, to Roger Ailes, the former Fox News chairman, and CEO, to some of the longest-serving Democrats in Congress, such as former Representative John Conyers.
Guantanamo Bay to remain open
AP Photo
After vowing during the 2016 presidential campaign to keep the U.S. military detention facility in Guantanamo Bay open, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep the facility open for suspected terrorists – domestic and foreign.
Trump touted the executive order at his first State of the Union, saying that he directed outgoing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to “re-examine our military detention policy” as a whole.
Eagles beat Patriots in Super Bowl, clinching first title
AP Photo
Nick Foles, a backup quarterback who almost retired two years ago and hadn’t taken a snap with the Eagles offense since Dec. 2017, gave the city of brotherly love it’s first Super Bowl title.
Foles outscored Tom Brady, the New England Patriots quarterback, and led a 75-yard drive, throwing the winning touchdown pass to Zach Ertz with just over two minutes left in the game.
“If there’s a word (it’s) called everything,” said Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie after the game. “That’s what it means to Eagles fans everywhere. And for Eagles fans everywhere, this is for them.”
President Trump requests a military parade
AP Photo
President Donald Trump officially requested a military parade throughout the streets of Washington, similar to one he witnessed when attending the Bastille Day Parade with French President Emmanuel Macron in July 2017.
During a Jan. 18 meeting at the Pentagon, Trump gave the order to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford.
“The marching orders were: I want a parade like the one in France,” one source inside the Pentagon said at the time.
Shooting at NSA headquarters
WUSA TV-9 via AP
Three people were taken in custody after trying to drive onto the grounds of the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, Maryland.
Federal law enforcement officials said the incident did not appear to be an act of terrorism, and later ruled that a driver and two passengers accidentally took the wrong exit off of Route 32 in Maryland.
Parkland high school shooting
Getty Images
17 people were killed and another 14 were wounded, when Nikolas Cruz opened fire on his former classmates at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Local law enforcement officials said that Cruz concealed himself in the crowd of students and staff, fleeing the high school, following the deadly shooting rampage.
Cruz had been recently expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons and was enrolled elsewhere in the school district, according to Broward County Superintendent Robert Runcie.
Weeks before the deadly rampage, a YouTube user named “Nikolas Cruz” posted in the comments section on a video that “I’m going to be a professional school shooter.”
Cruz was taken into custody by law enforcement agents roughly an hour after he committed the deadly mass shooting.
“You come to the conclusion this is just absolutely pure evil,” said Florida Gov. Rick Scott, several days after the shooting.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller charges 13 Russian nationals, 3 Russian companies
AP Photo
Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged thirteen Russian nationals and three Russian companies for interfering in the 2016 presidential election, accusing them of operating an internet “troll farm.”
A 37-page indictment unsealed by Mr. Mueller and announced by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein alleged that the Russians’ operations “included supporting the presidential campaign of then-candidate Donald J Trump and disparaging Hillary Clinton.”
Mr. Mueller also alleged that Russian operatives “communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump campaign.”
Man commits suicide in front of the White House
AP Photo
A man pulled out a gun and committed suicide in front of the White House after firing several shots.
Federal officials said at the time that no one, other than the gunman, was injured.
In a statement, the U.S. Secret Service said that medical personnel were called to the scene, however, the victim was declared dead on arrival.
The Metropolitan Police Department later identified the shooter as 26-year-old Cameron Ross Burgess of Maylene, Alabama.
Shooting at YouTube headquarters
Getty Images
A Muslim woman injured three people before turning the gun on herself, in a shooting at YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, California.
The suspect was motivated by YouTube’s demonetization of her videos, according to investigative journalist and Big League Politics contributor Laura Loomer.
Active shooter at YouTube HQ. Heard shots and saw people running while at my desk. Now barricaded inside a room with coworkers.
— Vadim Lavrusik (@Lavrusik) April 3, 2018
We are seeing @YouTube employees being brought out with hands up! pic.twitter.com/ZlSMY9FIVm
— Erin (@erinjeanc) April 3, 2018
Former First Lady Barbara Bush passes away
Getty Images
Former First Lady Barbara Bush passed away at the age of 92 at her Houston home in April.
Jim McGrath, a spokesman for Mrs. Bush and her husband, former President George H.W. Bush, announced her death in a tweet.
Harvey Weinstein indicted
Getty Images
Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was indicted by a grand jury in New York City on charges of rape and committing a criminal sexual act.
“This indictment brings the defendant another step closer to accountability for the crimes of violence with which he is now charged,” Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance said at the time in a statement.
President Trump enacts tariffs on Chinese imports
Bloomberg
President Donald Trump impose 25% tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, accusing Beijing of stealing intellectual property.
China, in turn, retaliated against the United States, imposing a 25% tariff on US goods, specifically crops and farming equipment.
Mr. Trump warned China that he would retaliate further if Beijing responded by enacting tariffs of its own.
Paul Manafort sent to jail, put in solitary confinement
Getty Images
Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chairman, was sent to jail prior to his first criminal trial.
After Robert Mueller accused Manafort, in a court filing, of witness tampering, Judge Amy Berman Jackson revoked his bail.
“The harm in this case is harm to the administration of justice and harm to the integrity of the court’s system,” Berman-Jackson told Mr. Manafort in court.
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy retires
Getty Images
In a letter to President Donald Trump, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced that he would be retiring, paving the way for Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination.
Shooting at Annapolis Newsroom
AP Photo
Five people were killed and two more were injured when a gunman opened fire in “a targeted attack” on The Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland.
The shooter was later identified as Jarrod W. Ramos.
Officials identified the victims as Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters.
Woman climbs Statue of Liberty in protest
NYPD via AP
A woman climbed the Statue of Liberty in July to protest the Trump administration’s family separation policy, wearing a “Rise and Resist” t-shirt.
The culprit, 44-year-old Therese Okoumou of Staten Island was eventually charged with disorderly conduct, interference with agency functions and trespassing.
Okoumou was convicted of all three charges last week in federal court.
President Trump nominates Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court
AP
President Trump nominated Brett M. Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Judge Kavanaugh has impeccable credentials,” Trump said in a speech at the White House. “Throughout legal circles, he is considered a true judge’s judge.”
President Trump holds summit with Vladimir Putin
Getty Images
President Trump held a summit in Helsinki, Finland with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he refused to support the unanimous assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies: that Russia interfered or “meddled” in the 2016 presidential election.
At a 46-minute-long press conference inside the Finnish presidential palace, Mr. Trump would not challenge Mr. Putin’s denial that the Russian government did not intervene in U.S. affairs.
Peter Strzok Fired
AP Photo
Peter Strzok, the deep-state stooge and Deputy Director of Counterintelligence at the FBI, who sent anti-Trump text messages to his FBI lover Lisa Page, while investigating Donald Trump, was fired.
“Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI – finally. The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & longer. Based on the fact that Strzok was in charge of the Witch Hunt, will it be dropped? It is a total Hoax. No Collusion, No Obstruction – I just fight back!” President Trump tweeted.
Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI – finally. The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & longer. Based on the fact that Strzok was in charge of the Witch Hunt, will it be dropped? It is a total Hoax. No Collusion, No Obstruction – I just fight back!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2018
“Just fired Agent Strzok, formerly of the FBI, was in charge of the Crooked Hillary Clinton sham investigation. It was a total fraud on the American public and should be properly redone!” Mr. Trump added in another tweet.
Just fired Agent Strzok, formerly of the FBI, was in charge of the Crooked Hillary Clinton sham investigation. It was a total fraud on the American public and should be properly redone!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2018
John McCain passes away
MediaPunch /IPX
Senator John McCain passed away in August following a lengthy battle with brain cancer.
“My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!” President Trump tweeted following the late Senator’s death.
My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018
Mass shooting at video game tournament
AP Photo
Two bystanders were killed and 11 others were injured when a gunman opened fire on his fellow competitors at a live-streamed video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida.
The shooter was later identified as 24-year-old David Katz of Baltimore, Maryland.
According to law enforcement officials, Katz was found at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
20 people dead in limo crash
AP Photo
A limo headed to a wedding, carrying 18 passengers, crashed in upstate New York, killing the driver as well as 2 pedestrians.
Synagogue massacre
Getty Images
In the deadliest anti-semitic attack in U.S. history, a gunman, Robert D. Bowers, stormed the Tree of Life Synagogue, and shot randomly into the crowd for several minutes, before exiting the synagogue, where SWAT team members took him into custody.
According to a yearly report issued by the ADL, the number of reported anti-semitic attacks in the United States jumped 57 percent in 2017, the largest increase in a single year, since the organization starting tracking such attacks.
Pentagon fails audit
AP Photo
The Pentagon failed it’s first comprehensive financial audit – conducted by over 1,200 auditors.
“We failed the audit, but we never expected to pass it,” said Patrick Shanahan, the Deputy Secretary of Defense. “It was an audit on a $2.7 trillion dollar organization, so the fact that we did the audit is substantial.”
President George H.W passes away
AP Photo
Former President George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, passed away at his home at the age of 94.
His final words were reportedly “I love you too,” to his son, George W. Bush, the 43rd President.
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