It's impossible to know how we'll remember the year 2025, but by looking back at some of the most widely seen, discussed, and at times picked-apart moments of the year, we might gain some insight.

Los Angeles

CBS News recaps some of the most widely discussed viral moments of 2025, featuring insights from Mark Malkin, Variety's senior culture and events editor. Notable events include Taylor Swift's engagement to Travis Kelce, which garnered over 37 million Instagram likes, and the 'Coldplay kiss' incident that led to resignations and public debate.

Additionally, Cracker Barrel's attempt to modernize its logo sparked significant backlash, prompting the company to revert to its original design. These moments reflect the power of social media and public sentiment in shaping cultural trends and corporate decisions.

From Taylor Swift to Cracker Barrel rebrand: Top viral moments of 2025

It's impossible to know how every single one of us will remember the year 2025 by looking back at some of the most widely seen discussed and at times picked apart moments of the year. We might gain some insight Mark Malkin joins us now to help break down some of those moments. He's a senior culture and events editor for variety. Thank you so much for being here so all right, let's talk about the instagram post seen around the world T swift she had a huge year she was able to buy back her master recording she released that end of an era docuseries on Disney plus why do you think this news of her engagement to Kansas City, she's tight and Travis Kelsey spread as far and wide as it did. I think it's spread far and wide because everyone loves this couple and also remember Taylor throughout her career has been singing about her ex boyfriends, you know the joke is you don't want to be an ex of Taylor Swift because she's going to sing about you so here she is finally found her prince Charming the photos you're looking at right now have more than 37 million likes on Taylor's instagram that's why people are so excited about this couple. She you know when they when they did release these photos, they said your favorite gym teacher and math ginger and English teacher are getting married. I love that caption I think it also spoke to so many people. All right, let's talk about Coldplay kiss can you have to be living under a rock if you didn't see this and the fall out there were parody videos. Gwyneth Paltrow showed up there were recreations the woman at the center of it just broke her silence, New York Times reminding all of us that behind this event over real people why did this blow up. This blow up because you know the kids can when you when you're going to be on the kids can you proudly kiss this is a couple that did not want to be seen. They quickly tried to get out of you there you go try to get out of view of the camera and then it was revealed that she was the head of HR at the tech company astronomer he's the CEO of astronomer they both have since resigned, but she has insisted and I think it's important to note that both of them were separated from their spouses so that there was not this so-called cheating scandal going on and it got serious for her, you know she was getting death threats death threats over this to the point where it was really scaring her children. So she silence to you know tell people like hey we've got to cool it a little bit. Yeah, I mean that the horrible ironic part about this is if they if they didn't react in that way. It wouldn't have blown up like it did, but of course, I mean hindsight. Yeah, and you know this in Chris Martin, the lead singer called play. Soon as he saw from the stage, he said he. They're played into it all right before we let you go Cracker Barrel they tried to update they tried to refresh the Internet revolted they changed it back why did this hit such a nerve. I'm still trying to understand why this is so quickly they otherwise their logo they got rid of the old-timer guy and people said it was too well, they're trying to guess be too modern and Cracker Barrel quickly went back to the old logo. Sometimes if they broke don't fix it right. Exactly so they go old country stores staying the old country store a classic Mark Malkin thank you so much.

President Trump said after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas must disarm soon or "there will be hell to pay." He said the next phase of the Gaza peace plan could move forward quickly if Hamas disarms.

Washington

Trump warns "hell to pay" if Hamas doesn't disarm

CBC’s Kris Reyes highlights the biggest AI advancements in 2025 along with the continued calls to establish clear boundaries in an effort to prevent misuse.

DeepSeek and the biggest AI advancements in 2025

Russia accused Ukraine on Monday (December 29) of trying to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia, although it provided no evidence to back up an assertion that Kyiv dismissed as baseless and designed to undermine peace negotiations.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Russia claims Ukraine tried to attack Putin residence

Two helicopters collided above Hammonton, New Jersey, and one person has died, officials say. CBS News' Elaine Quijano reports.

Hammonton

Helicopters collide in New Jersey

U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Monday (December 29) as questions linger about the future of the U.S.-backed ceasefire in Gaza.

Palm Beach

Middle East Conflict

Trump and Netanyahu meet in Florida to discuss Gaza ceasefire

British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua was involved in a road accident on Monday in Makun, Ogun State, south-west Nigeria.

Makun

British boxer Anthony Joshua survives car crash that killed two others

In a new show of force, China has mobilized its navy, air force, and ground troops to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports. The military drill comes on the heels of an $11bn US arms sale to Taipei.

Taipei City

China stages new military exercises around Taiwan

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin truly want peace as he and Zelenskyy met in Florida. Some experts say Trump is 'delusional' if he truly thinks Putin wants peace.

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting ends with optimism but no deal

Although the U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine have been "100% agreed," they have a short expiration date, the Ukrainian president explained after revealing more details following his meeting with Trump on Sunday.

Florida

U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine set for 15 years, Zelenskyy says

China's military moved army, naval, air force and artillery units around Taiwan on December 29 for its "Justice Mission 2025" drills, as the island vowed to defend democracy and mobilized troops to rehearse repelling a potential Chinese attack.

China launches 'Justice Mission 2025' war games around Taiwan

President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida on Sunday. Trump said he thinks both men are ready for peace.

Trump meets with Zelenskyy, insists Putin is ready for peace

Far-right politics have pushed further into the mainstream across much of Europe. Populist parties, even in opposition, are shaping national debates on migration and the economy. The trend reflects growing voter frustration over living costs, borders and political trust.

Berlin

Far-right politics gaining influence across Europe

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is set to discuss a new peace plan draft with U.S. President Trump in Florida on Sunday (December 28). However, fresh Russian attacks on Kyiv have left a third of the city without power, undermining local confidence.

Kyiv

Kyiv residents fear escalation amid Zelenskyy-Trump peace talks

A report has sought to catalogue some of the most significant extreme weather events of the year. UK charity Christian Aid found that heatwaves are pushing the limits of human adaptation, hurricanes and typhoons are breaking records, and droughts are devastating lives across the globe. It's all coming at a heavy financial cost.

Top 10 natural disasters cost over $120 billion in 2025, report says

Russia attacked Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones on Saturday, ahead of what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said would be a crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to work out a plan to end nearly four years of war.

Russian drones, missiles pound Kyiv ahead of Zelenskiy-Trump meeting

French actor Brigitte Bardot has died aged 91, her foundation said on Sunday (December 28). She shot to international fame dancing the mambo barefoot in "And God Created Woman," her tousled hair and fierce energy radiating a sexual magnetism rarely before seen in mainstream cinema.

Saint-Tropez

Brigitte Bardot, France's 'legend of the century', has died

A ceasefire is now in place between Cambodia and Thailand after weeks of cross-border fighting. But with nearly a million civilians displaced and trust in short supply, the focus now is on whether the guns will stay silent.

Bangkok

Thailand and Cambodia agree on ceasefire to end weeks of deadly fighting

The storm that hit the Northeast this weekend dropped up to a foot of snow in some areas. New York City saw its highest level of snowfall in nearly four years, and the region's three major airports experienced significant delays and disruptions.

New York

Powerful winter storm brings heavy snow to Northeast

For approximately 10 hours Saturday, Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv with about 500 drones and 40 missiles. The attack comes one day before before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Trump in Mar-a-Lago. Elizabeth Palmer has the latest.

Russia launches massive attack on Ukraine ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met today in Halifax to discuss economic aid amid the Russia-Ukraine war. This comes ahead of Zelenskyy’s plans to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a peace deal.

Halifax Regional Municipality

Canada announces $2.5B in aid for Ukraine

President Trump said Thursday's strikes on Nigeria targeting ISIS were set for Wednesday but were delayed to Christmas Day for symbolic reasons. Mr. Trump claimed the Nigerian government is failing to protect Christians.

Washington D.C.

Trump says timing of Christmas Day strikes in Nigeria was intentional

The latest attack comes as presidents Zelenskyy and Trump prepare to meet in Florida on Sunday amid ongoing efforts to end the war.

One dead many injured after Russia launches massive attack on Kyiv

According to the Chinese foreign ministry, the sanctions entail freezing the companies’ assets in China and banning individuals and organisations from accessing them.

Beijing

China sanctions 20 American companies over arms sales to Taiwan

Somalia reacted angrily Friday (December 26) after Israel formally recognised the northern region of Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state" -- the first country to do so. U.S. President Donald Trump said he opposed U.S. recognition of Somaliland in an interview with the New York Post.

Somaliland

Somalia denounces Israeli recognition of Somaliland

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an "immediate" ceasefire on Saturday (December 26), the two countries said in a joint statement, pledging to end border clashes that killed dozens of people.

Buri Ram

Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire

Somaliland, a territory of more than 3 million people in the Horn of Africa, seceded from Somalia more than three decades ago, but it hadn't internationally been recognized as an independent state by any country.

Israel becomes first country to recognize Somaliland

Some of the stabbed victims remain in serious condition. A 38-year-old man was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, authorities said.

Mishima

At least 15 injured in chemical attack, stabbing at Japan factory

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was shocked by the "horrific killing spree" and pledged Israel would reinforce its security.

Jerusalem

Palestinian man kills two in car, knife attack in northern Israel

Munitions factories are expected to expand capacity and build new plants as the regime in Pyongyang intensifies weapons development and furthers its ties with Russia.

Pyongyang

Kim Jong-un orders North Korea to boost missile production in 2026

The United States launched airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria's Sokoto State on Thursday. Nigerian authorities denied Trump's claim of mass killings of Christians amid mixed reactions to the U.S. intervention.

Breakdown