The Buzz 01.01.26

FREE SPEECH

With 171 assaults on journalists documented in 2025 as of Dec. 29, the number is roughly the same as the combined total of the past three years. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a project of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, documents incidents across the country, including arrests, equipment seizures and other things that prevent journalists from doing their jobs. California led the nation with the most incidents at 140, many taking place in Los Angeles in June during protests surrounding President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Across the country, the Tracker has documented 32 instances of journalists detained, lower than the 51 documented in 2024. Most incidents never lead to prosecution, according to the Tracker, noting that 90 percent of these journalists in 2025 had their charges dropped or were not charged at all. Nearly 90 percent of the arrests and detentions happened while reporters were covering protests over the presidential administration’s immigration policies.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“More people have lived in space than have lived underwater.” - Photographer Kip Evans, on his career that included being part of a team living underwater for a month

GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK

GOOD:

Commuters and Marina residents, rejoice. All four lanes of Imjin Parkway are finally open. The Imjin Parkway Widening Project, a 1.7-mile road improvement from Reservation to Imjin roads that included adding two lanes and replacing light-controlled intersections to roundabouts, was completed ahead of schedule. The project’s $44 million price tag was funded with Measure X and Senate Bill 1 funds. It broke ground in February 2024. It was supposed to wrap up by summer 2026, but opened six months earlier. “They were at the 18-month mark, and they are done now,” Mayor Bruce Delgado says. In addition to the four roundabouts, buffered bike lanes, pedestrian upgrades, retaining walls and more are part of the project. Delgado says since the road is now fully open, it is helping ease traffic congestion in the city. The only thing that is left to do is adding art along the way.

GREAT:

Riane Eisler, a long-time resident of Carmel, has dedicated her life to studying human society and advocating for peace. She recently received one of the Austrian government’s highest honors: the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art First Class. Eisler released her book The Chalice and the Blade in 1987, which has since become an international best-seller, examining models of society she refers to as domination and partnership. Eisler, who fled Austria in 1939 to escape the Nazis, is a sought-after speaker who has given keynotes at conferences internationally, as well as addressed the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. Congress and other bodies. At 94, Eisler continues to work, serving as president of the Center for Partnership Systems. Christine Moser, the Austrian Consul General of Los Angeles, visited Eisler’s Carmel home to deliver the award.