Student debt? Lame. Government shutdown? Irrelevant. Impending reality that you’ll probably be unemployed when you graduate? No, thank you. 

The opinion staff decided to discuss what we’re actually thinking about. From the Kendrick Lamar-Drake saga to Katy Perry catapulting into space, we asked our writers to detail the most iconic moments from this year. 

So, which pop culture moment was your favorite?

Opinion Editor Isabella Garcia

Kim Kardashian’s thong skirt 

Yeah, you read that right. Kim Kardashian stars as a high-strung lawyer in the new legal drama “All’s Fair,” ostensibly to promote empowerment amid our patriarchal, capitalist society. I have yet to see this absolute catastrophe — that boasts a jaw-dropping 3% Rotten Tomatoes rating — but, as a fellow aspiring lawyer, it would seem her infamous work attire choices have made their way to my Reddit feed. In the series, the SKIMS founder dons a Jean Paul Gaultier 1997 skirt suit … with a cutout in the back that reveals her maroon thong. She is supposed to be a professional! In a law firm! Subverting expectations to reclaim power in a field dominated by men is one thing, but I fear this may have set feminism back three generations. 

Associate Opinion Editor Kaleb Blizzard 

The Premier of ‘Zootopia 2’

I’ve had to wait a long time for a number of things, but no wait that I have had to experience has been as excruciating as the one for “Zootopia 2.” It’s been over nine years since the debut of the first entry in the series, and my Wilde-Hopps ship hopes have been on hold since then. “Zootopia 2” was released in late November to what many assumed was a guarantee that we would see the pair together. Instead, it turns out we got a story on a covert gentrification plot by a family of lynx. Still, it’s the best Disney animated film we’ve seen in years — I guess I’ll just have to wait on Judy and Nick until 2035, when “Zootopia 3” is finally released.

Opinion Columnist Joshua Abraham 

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance

After one of the greatest rap beefs of all time between Kendrick Lamar and Drake ended with Lamar accusing Drake of being a pedophile and turning it into a billion-stream hit, people thought the saga was over. Except, Lamar was announced as the halftime performer for Super Bowl LIX, further burying Drake in the ground. Featuring music off his newest album “GNX,” his Pulitzer-winning “DAMN.” and his ultra-hit off the “Black Panther” album, he transformed the Caesars Superdome into a platform to comment on the current state of America and his place in it. Not only was his meme-making smile at the camera during “Not Like Us” iconic, but the entire show will go down as one of the greatest halftime performances of all time. 

Opinion Columnist Wyatt Pickering 

Everything is non-romantic between Taylor Swift and Charli xcx

Throughout 2025, we saw many successful women at odds with one another, but none of those feuds were more iconic than the beef between Taylor Swift and Charli xcx. In response to Charli allegedly writing about her insecurities toward Taylor in her catchy song, “Sympathy is a knife,” Taylor dropped the equivalent of a Swiftie atom bomb on the British pop star in the song “Actually Romantic.” Taylor went on to describe Charli as a toy chihuahua that won’t stop barking at her. Many chronically online pop fans, myself included, are waiting to see what these two opposing forces in the music industry have next and if their beef will inspire more songs from these two icons.

Opinion Writer Sidney Uy
‘The concept of’ and the bald-headed genius aura

“The concept of,” followed by the most audaciously real observation, is the standout pop culture moment of the mid-2020s. Attached to “The concept of” meme is Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo tapping on her bald head and doing some calculations with her acrylic nails, ready to drop something nuclear. Now I’m tapping my fingers on my head too, trying to figure out why I’m being tested! For example, the concept of that man standing on top of the bar tables, frat-flicking in order to impress the women — oh! That’s a concept! Ever been icked out? Apply “The concept of” generously because it’s addictive and works every single time.

Opinion Writer Maeva Elizabé

Tom Holland and Zendaya’s engagement   

Zendaya’s mononymous name is undeniably iconic, but Mrs. Holland sure does have a nice ring to it! As a hopeless romantic born in the wrong generation and subjected to a year disconcertingly plagued by celebrity bombshell divorces — I’m looking at you, Keith and Nicole — and acrimonious splits, I’ve increasingly found myself scouring for signs that romance is still alive and kicking. While the number of fish in the sea of singles may have risen these past months on account of this catch-and-release epidemic, the dating pool having conversely shrunk by two following the reports of Tom Holland and Zendaya’s long-anticipated engagement — and the bride-to-be’s fashionable Golden Globes soft launch — back in January mercifully proves that love has not gone out of style, and is, in fact, still very much in the air.

Opinion Writer Aliyah Mims 

Katy Perry in space

A borderline absurd spectacle to be remembered this year is Katy Perry catapulting herself into space along with her five fellow renowned “astronauts.” The takeoff of Blue Origin’s NS-31 flight perfectly captures the growing ridiculousness of millionaire escapism while the rest of us regular citizens spend our time calculating if we can afford gas and groceries in the same week. In the meantime, the all-women crew was gracefully floating in zero gravity like it was an avant-garde pilates class. The entire stunt is purely performative, along with a cosmic reminder that ultra-wealthy luminaries literally exist on a different plane. While it was unintentionally poetic, this unhinged mission confirmed that the rich aren’t just out of touch anymore — they’ve ascended into orbit.

Opinion Writer Gabriela Gomez

Katseye’s iconic collab with Gap 

On the heels of Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad came the iconic dance collab between Katseye and Gap. While Sydney has been able to utilize her name to sell all sorts of products — Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss, namely — the American Eagle ad fell short of its mark. It faced a lot of backlash as audiences claimed that it advertised “ideal genes.” With public outcry at an all-time high, the global popstar group Katseye stepped up. The ad, featuring a spectacularly choreographed dance to the popular song “Milkshake” by Kelis, was the definition of perfection. The overwhelming mix of diversity — represented in the group itself and the supporting background dancers — was exactly what we needed.

Opinion Writer Aidan Zamany 

The new, old Zeitgeist

I couldn’t care less about short-lived internet trends, celebrities and any other superficiality that falls under the umbrella of contemporary “popular culture.” Most of what I engage with is esoteric, ethereal and rooted in ancient tradition. This year, I have enjoyed watching my special circle of dissenters publish exceptionally elevated content; with great creativity, they have incorporated the Algiz, Ouroboros, Götterdämmerung and the Übermensch into a glorious synthesis of pure culture. In this regard, consumption is no longer degenerate, but instead a deeply nourishing affirmation of our superiority in body, soul and spirit. 

Opinion Writer Killian Netherton 

Almost Famous 25th Anniversary

My favorite pop culture moment of this year is the 25th anniversary of Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous.” The anniversary promoted some limited screenings of the anniversary special — and Kate Hudson’s iconic character, Penny Lane’s ankle-length suede pants and shearling-lined coat continue to inspire public fashion to this day. Even celebrities like Sydney Sweeney and Bella Hadid can’t resist rocking this glorious 70s boho-chic aesthetic. From the movie’s release in 2000 to 2025, “Almost Famous” has continued to have a lasting impact on American audiences, extending its reach not only to their hearts but also to their fashion sense.