Top 10 Worst Things that Have Happened in 2026

Oh yes, another one of these has just been made, because who else is monitoring events in real time?

As of this writing, we are a few months into the new year, but there's still a lot of ground to go over. I'll try my hardest not to have too much repetition. You should do the same if you want to contribute.

And yes, we all know we shouldn't talk about the worst things, but can you ignore them when they are all around us sometimes? Not really.

The Top Ten

Shooting of Protestors in Iran

Nationwide marches against the Iranian government escalated significantly during the early months of the year due to an ongoing economic crisis and severe currency depreciation. Security personnel deployed by the state responded to the unrest by firing live ammunition into crowds and implementing a strict telecommunications blackout. Independent monitors estimated that the violent crackdowns resulted in thousands of civilian casualties and tens of thousands of arrests.

Iran is another nation that has had enough of an iron-fisted rule by a long-hated government. So many all around this nation have had enough and have organized protests and such against the many factors ruining Iran.
Unfortunately, we are also seeing just how bad Iran's government is, because there are many protestors who have been killed by the government. Around 2,000 or so have been killed and many more detained by the current government. It actually feels like a true civil war going on in Iran right now.
Protests Against the Removal of Nicolás Maduro

In early January 2026, United States military forces captured and removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from office during a series of targeted strikes. This intervention prompted immediate international condemnation and led to organized protests against the unauthorized regime change. Various political figures and citizen groups publicly contested the constitutionality and legal justification of the operation.

I hate Trump these days. He's done some stupid things, but this is a certified rare Trump W.
Who in the devil would protest the removal of a downright dictator? A guy who'd easily fit in as a Bond villain.
It's crazy to think that people who call random strangers on the internet Nazis are defending a legit dictator.
Continuation of the Russia-Ukraine War

Since the onset of the conflict in 2022, the Russia-Ukraine War has persisted into 2026 with an increasing reliance on fully autonomous drone technology. The ongoing military engagement has resulted in substantial agricultural sector losses for Ukraine, estimated at over $80 billion USD. Furthermore, the extensive use of artillery has left the region's landscape heavily contaminated with explosive residue and heavy metals.

There are still strikes going on between the two nations. Lately, there's been an Oreshnik missile used for fresh strikes against Ukraine. This is the last of the holdovers, and it's still ongoing.
Shooting of Renee Nicole Good and Subsequent Protests

On January 7, 2026, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer named Jonathan Ross fatally shot a thirty-seven-year-old woman named Renee Nicole Good inside her vehicle in Minneapolis. The release of video footage documenting the incident quickly triggered widespread public rallies and vigils across Minnesota. Tensions further escalated when the Federal Bureau of Investigation took exclusive control of the inquiry and blocked local state agencies from accessing the evidence.
Continuation of the Israel-Hamas War

The military conflict in the Gaza Strip extended into a new year with ongoing combat operations and severe humanitarian impacts across the Middle East. The United Nations and various global advocacy groups continued to issue urgent appeals for civilian protection amid extensive infrastructure damage and mass displacement. This prolonged regional instability also sustained a wave of activism, including highly publicized political demonstrations across Europe and Australia.

Another holdover. This war is still more or less ongoing, and there are still atrocities being committed on both sides. And Iran, for that matter, also seems to want to get involved despite its current issues.
Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie

Eighty-four-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in the Catalina Foothills of Arizona on the evening of January 31. Investigators discovered bloodstains at the residence and concluded that the elderly mother of television anchor Savannah Guthrie had been abducted. Federal and local law enforcement agencies launched a massive ongoing search effort to locate her.

On February 1, Nancy Guthrie disappeared.
She was apparently kidnapped.
I can't imagine the horror her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, is going through.
Announcement of Apple's AI Age Verification for Its Systems

Responding to new legislative mandates regarding child safety, Apple integrated mandatory age verification protocols directly into its operating systems in early 2026. Users installing specific applications or setting up devices are now presented with system-level prompts requiring credit card authorization or official government identification. Privacy advocates quickly highlighted the cybersecurity risks associated with transmitting sensitive biometric data and personal documents to tech platforms.

Why is every single company doing this? People see AI, may use a chatbot once or twice, but eventually find out it sucks and don't need it. Of all the things that get shoved in people's faces the most, AI is probably the worst of the bunch. And with security breaches and other privacy concerns being worse, how isn't there a single soul in any of these megacorporations blowing a whistle on this yet? Are they scared to speak out for fear of losing their jobs? We can do without the AI, especially when it is wrong in many instances.

This is taken directly out of the book 1984. I'm not exaggerating. Anyone who tries to make the claim that this is about "protecting kids" is sorely mistaken. This is about mass surveillance and spying, plain and simple. It won't protect kids. If anything, it'll endanger them more, and predators will find exploits in this system. It should be the parents' responsibility to monitor their offspring, not major corporations. This will lead to DDoS attacks and doxing. No one wants this, but it's being forced down the throats of everyone because of the UK.
White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting

At the Washington Hilton hotel, Cole Allen, a teacher from California, brought firearms into the hotel, and guns were fired inside the hotel not far from where the president, first lady, and vice president were. Everyone evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported aside from one officer and Allen, with the latter being taken into custody.
But of course, the reactions to the whole ordeal are all over the place. Naturally, Trump and the Republican Party are going to condemn acts of political violence, while more responsible Democrats and other world leaders also will do so. Crazy people on social media will of course claim that the shooter should have reached Trump or that the whole thing was a setup just to improve his degrading ratings, and honestly, just imagine you were there at the time. There were a ton of people there who were witness to the whole thing. It also turns out that Allen even had a manifesto on who he wanted to target.
Killing of Alex Pretti

On January 24, 2026, two United States Customs and Border Protection officers fatally shot thirty-seven-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident occurred less than three weeks after another local resident was killed by federal immigration enforcement personnel in the same state. Following the shooting, local officials and community organizations organized public demonstrations and demanded the withdrawal of federal agents from the area.

He was killed by ICE agents, and that's a serious tragedy for anyone to go through.
Continuation of the European Migrant Crisis

Border security challenges across the continent evolved as authorities identified an increase in sophisticated human smuggling operations. Polish guards discovered several reinforced underground tunnels extending from Belarusian territory into Poland designed to bypass surface-level barriers. Defense officials publicly attributed the construction of these subterranean networks to a coordinated hybrid warfare strategy supported by the Russian and Belarusian governments.

The first holdover from previous lists. It's still important today because, as far as I know, certain nations and their governments aren't doing enough to curb immigration, or are making it worse by arresting regular citizens while letting some heinous individuals stick around.

The Newcomers

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Flash Floods in Central Kentucky

Constant rain has flooded central Kentucky, killing at least 4 people.
It's a reminder that some places aren't prepared for flash floods.
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Lionel Richie Falls Onstage

While singing Dancing On the Ceiling, Lionel Richie fell onstage after falling stage after falling ill.
He had to be taken to the hospital.
We wish him well soon.

The Contenders

Death of Catherine O'Hara

On January 30, 2026, Canadian-American actress and comedian Catherine O'Hara passed away at the age of seventy-one following a brief illness. She died at the Providence Saint John's Health Center located in Santa Monica, California. During her fifty-year career, she earned numerous accolades including two Primetime Emmy Awards and an appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Yet another heartbreaking death. This actress, best known for her work in films like the first two Home Alone films, Beetlejuice, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, has passed at the age of 71. RIP.
Announcement of Discord's AI Age Verification Update

In early 2026, the messaging platform Discord announced the implementation of a global age verification system utilizing an artificial intelligence inference model. Accounts failing to pass the automated background estimation are forcibly moved to restricted settings that block access to sensitive communities and media. To bypass these new limits, users must submit a facial video scan or upload a government-issued photo ID to a third-party processor.

I did an entire college assignment on Discord's September 2025 data breach. It involved a single point of failure. Attackers got hold of a third-party vendor help desk account and used it to gain information from those seeking help with their Discord accounts, which culminated in more than 1 TB of data being compromised. That data includes driver's licenses and other forms of government-issued ID.
This isn't going to help Discord at all and proves that they didn't learn their lesson from last year's data breach, or worse, they want it to happen again. Their "damage control" post on X means that they don't really care about what their clients truly want.
Partial U.S. Government Shutdown Causes TSA Workers to Quit and Airports to Have Long Lines and Delayed Flights

The government isn't getting along with its own branches, and thanks to this, there's another stupid government shutdown which greatly impacts workers all across the country. This time, it's airport security and TSA workers. The shutdown ruins their pay, and the workers go on strike and outright quit.
According to the White House X account, 400+ TSA officers have quit and 2.5 billion dollars have been lost. According to the Los Angeles Times, the shutdown answer is simple, pay TSA officers. And lines for TSA stretch extremely long, several hours even early in the morning.
Don't get me started on delayed flights. People want to point the finger at certain politicians, like Trump who's of course going to threaten to bring in ICE to do additional security in the TSA's absence, but many more are also blaming Democrats, specifically Chuck Schumer, on this too. In the end, nobody wins from a government shutdown.
Death of Chuck Norris

Martial arts superstar actor Chuck Norris decided to meet death head-on at the age of 86.
Raising of Global Tariffs to 15% by Donald Trump

President Donald Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to implement new global tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down his previous trade measures. He initially announced a ten percent levy on imported goods. The administration then quickly increased that rate to the maximum legal limit of fifteen percent, prompting an immediate lawsuit from two dozen states.
Announcement of Microsoft's AI Age Verification for Its Systems

Microsoft announced the implementation of new artificial intelligence age assurance measures across its platforms in early 2026 to comply with emerging digital safety regulations. The technology corporation's updated system utilizes behavioral signals and third-party verification services to estimate user ages and restrict access to mature features. These mandatory checks initially rolled out for Xbox users in the United Kingdom, where social functionalities were strictly limited for individuals who failed to provide valid government identification.

So, it's not enough that several websites are now implementing this change. Microsoft officially decided to implement AI age verification in 2027 just to use their software. To make what's already an invasive update and a plague on modern society even worse. AI age verification needs to get banned pronto. It's blatant overreach and a violation of privacy that's being used to spy on people.

Even Microsoft is following the AI age verification bandwagon.
Virginia Bus Crash on Interstate 95

A bus hit several cars on Interstate 95 in Virginia, near Stafford County, where they were all slowing down in a work zone. There were five casualties here, two of them being children. The driver apparently is a non-English speaker, which raises red flags on commercial driver's licenses, considering that a bus is a commercial vehicle and this is the United States, where English is now the official language.
Death of Oliver Tree

This was without a doubt the worst music moment so far of 2026. This was eerily similar to Kobe Bryant's death (except this was from two helicopters colliding mid-air). The artist, known for songs such as Miss You, Alien Boy, and Life Goes On, was one of the six victims of the helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. What's worse was that he would've had a birthday 15 days later. R.I.P. (June 29, 1993 - June 14, 2026).

WHAT THE HECK? I was totally shocked by this news. The singer Oliver Tree, known for hits like "Life Goes On", just passed away unexpectedly in a helicopter crash at the young age of 32. RIP.
Reddit Announces Ai Age Verification Update

Yes, Reddit has officially decided to jump on the bandwagon. Their CEO has caved in to the UK and is going to make it mandatory to use their site. This is stupid, considering how many in their user base have complained against this and have made it clear they're not on board with this practice.
2026 is officially the year of CEO incompetence. How is it that 4chan, of all sites, is NOT capitulating and has more common sense than most social media websites? I hate to be complimenting 4chan, but damn.

Reddit is another victim of AI age verification. This is causing chaos for Reddit users.
Storm Goretti

On January 8, 2026, an extratropical cyclone named Storm Goretti struck Western Europe and brought severe weather conditions to the southwestern regions of the United Kingdom. The low-pressure system generated wind gusts of up to ninety-nine miles per hour alongside significant snowfall and heavy rain, prompting the Met Office to issue a rare red weather warning. The multi-hazard event caused widespread infrastructure damage, resulting in tens of thousands of power outages and severe transport disruptions across Cornwall and Devon.

Meanwhile, a major storm is impacting the UK, as well as France, with loads of people out of power and travel heavily disrupted. While not a truly devastating event, it is still important not to underestimate weather, especially winter storms.
Death of Scott Adams

On January 13, 2026, author and illustrator Scott Adams passed away at the age of sixty-eight in Pleasanton, California. His death was attributed to complications from stage four prostate cancer, a terminal diagnosis he had publicly shared with his audience the previous year. For over three decades, he was widely known as the creator of the syndicated workplace comic strip Dilbert.

Famous author of the comic strip Dilbert died of prostate cancer at age 68.
Shreveport, Louisiana Mass Shooting

Can you think of anything more horrid than someone shooting and killing eight kids, especially if some of those children were your own? Yeah, that's what happened: domestic violence in which a family member gunned down several of his kids before cops had to take him down.
Southern California Wildfires
Attempted Ban of X in the U.K.

In January 2026, the United Kingdom government and communications regulator Ofcom threatened to ban the social media platform X after its artificial intelligence tool, Grok, was used to generate non-consensual explicit imagery. Investigations revealed that the chatbot had produced deepfake photographs and videos, including criminal material depicting minors. In response to the regulatory pressure, the company restricted the image generation features to paid subscribers, prompting further investigations by the Information Commissioner's Office.

If there's one thing I know for certain, it is that if you as a government official were to ban a popular social media app, you'll be seen as a dictator towards your own citizens. X isn't the most popular app in the UK but dammit, there's still thousands of users of it, so to ban it seems shady. Especially since the UK is a hot mess when it comes to how it deals with its citizens vs. its immigrants. Are the two connected?

Good thing. Miserable and Twitter are synonyms.
Adamuz Train Derailments

On the evening of January 18, 2026, a high-speed passenger train traveling through Adamuz, Spain, derailed and sent its rear carriages sprawling across an adjacent southbound track. A second passenger train violently collided with the obstructing railcars seconds later, sending multiple compartments tumbling down a steep embankment. The dual catastrophe killed forty-six individuals and left nearly three hundred others injured.