{"id":81498,"date":"2025-12-29T09:49:49","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=81498"},"modified":"2025-12-29T09:49:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:49:52","slug":"wrapped-2025-the-story-exchanges-10-most-popular-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wrapped-2025-the-story-exchanges-10-most-popular-stories\/","title":{"rendered":"Wrapped 2025: The Story Exchange\u2019s 10 Most Popular Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It’s that time of year again — time to reflect on the stories that you, gentle reader, indicated you liked the best. And we are delighted to share that in 2025, perhaps due to shifting political winds at the beginning of the year, you were actually more in a defiant mood than gentle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stories about powerful women wielding political clout, or combatting climate disasters, or using their voices to stand up for others topped the list of “most popular.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, we present our most popular stories, starting with our most-read story at No. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n

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1<\/div>\n \n

Start placing your pre-orders. There are new books coming from Amanda Knox, Brooke Shields, Han Kang and more female authors in the new year. (Credit: Courtesy of Photo by Eman Ali on Unsplash)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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10 Books By Women Authors We Can\u2019t Wait to Read in 2025<\/h2>\n

We rounded up a list of the new year’s hotly anticipated releases from women authors, including Amanda Knox, Brooke Shields and Han Kang.<\/p>\n

Read Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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2<\/div>\n \n

Rep. Anita Somani, seen here, is one of several state-level legislators hoping to inspire refreshed discourse around anti-abortion laws \u2013 in a roundabout way. (Credit: Ohio House of Representatives)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

A New Resistance Tactic: Proposals to Legislate Men\u2019s Bodies<\/h2>\n

Two new state-level bills are designed to spark conversation \u2014 and force anti-abortion politicians to confront the reality of who they seek to control, the lawmakers behind them say.<\/p>\n

Read Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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3<\/div>\n \n

Terms like \u201cwomen\u201d are being increasingly erased from government forms like these, as well as websites and more \u2013 all for our protection, of course. (Credit: Jasleen Kaur, Flickr)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

The Trump Administration\u2019s Ongoing Effort to Literally Erase Women<\/h2>\n

Federal government sites are being scrubbed of any and all information, accolades and more that mention women, as part of a broader push against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.<\/p>\n

Read Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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4<\/div>\n \n

Gov. Janet Mills is one of several women in power who are pushing back against President Donald Trump\u2019s attempts to control, well, everything. (Credit: Gov. Janet Mills\u2019 official Facebook page)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Women in Power Are Gumming Up the Trump Machine<\/h2>\n

As President Donald Trump and his team seek to secure yet more power by eroding American structures and norms, these women government officials have been fighting back.<\/p>\n

Read Now<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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5<\/div>\n \n

(Credit: Department Of Government Efficiency X account)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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\u2018DEI\u2019 is Not to Blame for What Ails Us \u2014 Dumb, Arrogant Men Are<\/h2>\n

Women and minorities didn\u2019t start the fires that burn around us. Those were lit by the men in charge, Candice Helfand-Rogers writes.<\/p>\n

Read Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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6<\/div>\n \n

Print. Zitkala-Sa, Sioux Indian, by Gertrude Kasebier. PG*69.236.104.\nImage modified by curatorial staff.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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She Fought for Her People\u2019s Rights \u2014 And to Safeguard Native American Culture<\/h2>\n

Zitk\u00e1la-\u0160\u00e1 was a prolific writer and activist who co-founded the National Council of American Indians. And she penned the first ever Native opera.<\/p>\n

Read Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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7<\/div>\n \n

View of a fire, from a rooftop in West Hollywood, on Jan. 8. (Credit: Wikimedia)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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How Did the Los Angeles Wildfires Happen?<\/h2>\n

We asked wildfire expert Heather Hansen to tell us exactly how the fires started and explain how our changing climate got us into this deadly predicament.<\/p>\n

Read Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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8<\/div>\n \n

Pete Hegseth speaking in 2018. (Credit: Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Here\u2019s How Military Women Reacted to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth\u2019s Speech<\/h2>\n

The decorated members of the U.S. military \u2014 who also happen to be women \u2014 said there is no “male” or “female” standard when it comes to serving their country.<\/p>\n

Read Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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9<\/div>\n \n

(Credit: Valerisa Gaddy)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Her \u2018Indigenous Knowledge\u2019 Almost Cost Her a PhD. Now, She\u2019s Using It to Help Desert Communities<\/h2>\n

Valerisa Gaddy heads up Cool Tucson, and is helping the Pascua Yaqui Nation develop rain gardens.<\/p>\n

Read Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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10<\/div>\n \n

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (Credit: nrkbeta, Flickr)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n

The Bold & The Autocratic: 12 Women in Politics to Watch in 2025<\/h2>\n

We’ve rounded up a list of women, from seasoned elected officials to up-and-comers, to keep an eye on this year \u2014 be they progressive role models, or regressive change agents.<\/p>\n

Read Now<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We’re most surprised at No. 6 on this list, about a powerful woman activist (from 100 years ago!) who fought for Native American 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