Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

2020, in 7 minutes

Let’s close out 2020 by looking back at the moments that inspired us and changed us in a year unlike any other.

Kimberly Mas
Kimberly Mas is a senior producer at Vox video focused on science explainers.

2020 changed everything. From the deadly Covid-19 pandemic to protests against systemic racism and police brutality, from changing global leadership to the effects of climate change, Vox explained the moments that mattered — and the ones that brought us joy.

The coronavirus dominated global news this year. But between rising case counts, protests sparked: in Poland, against strict abortion laws; in India, against a new citizenship law that excluded Muslims; in the US, after the killing of George Floyd by police.

Locusts descended on East Africa, fires devastated Australia and the US, and an explosion in Beirut destroyed lives and property. In the US, Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, and Kamala Harris became the first Black person and first South Asian American person to be elected vice president.

The world spent 2020 in various states of lockdown, with schools and offices closed, masks on, and Zoom video chats and TikTok serving as entertainment in a year with few new movies.

In December, new Covid-19 vaccines began to roll out worldwide, providing a glimmer of hope at the end of a long and hard year. To revisit these events and everything in between, check out the video above.

Further reading:

Vox broke down all the stuff that got us through 2020, like Animal Crossing and kiddie pools.

Check out Emily VanDerWerff’s series “Stories from a Lost Year,” which features as-told-to accounts from everyday people living through 2020.

You can find this video and all of Vox’s videos on YouTube. And if you’re interested in supporting our video journalism, you can become a member of the Vox Video Lab on YouTube.

See More:

More in Video

Video
What would J.R.R. Tolkien think of Palantir?What would J.R.R. Tolkien think of Palantir?
Play
Video

How The Lord of the Rings lore helps explain the mysterious tech company.

By Benjamin Stephen
America, Actually
The progressive plan to reclaim the working classThe progressive plan to reclaim the working class
Podcast
America, Actually

Progressive caucus chair Rep. Greg Casar on his movement’s new playbook.

By Astead Herndon
Video
The Department of Holy WarThe Department of Holy War
Play
Video

What Pete Hegseth’s fascination with the Crusades can tell us about the war in Iran.

By Nate Krieger
Video
Live Nation lost. Will anything change for ticket prices?Live Nation lost. Will anything change for ticket prices?
Play
Video

A jury ruled Live Nation and Ticketmaster a monopoly, but what that means for ticket prices is not so simple.

By Frank Posillico
Eating the Ocean
Why are states unleashing millions of these fish?Why are states unleashing millions of these fish?
Play
Eating the Ocean

America’s fishing paradox.

By Nate Krieger
Video
Why Americans can’t escape credit card debtWhy Americans can’t escape credit card debt
Play
Video

Credit card APRs are now as high as 20 percent.

By Frank Posillico