Dec. 16, 2021Updated Dec. 25, 2021, 8:55 a.m. ET
2021 was supposed to be different.
The year we put our political differences aside, set out to enjoy life again and collectively moved forward into the post-pandemic future.
Instead, it was largely the year of denial.
It started with a group of Trump supporters who refused to believe he lost the election and in response, launched an insurrection to try overturn the results during a riot on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol.
It continued with a wave of denials around COVID – from the very existence of the virus itself to the efficacy of masks and vaccines to the need to take any preventative measures. By early December, more than 75% of Americans over 5 years old had received at least one dose of the vaccine and about 30% of Americans over 18 had received a booster.
It persists as we collectively try to ignore the climate-induced calamities that shape our world almost daily, with an epic southern cold front kicking off the year and springtime-level super cell tornadoes in December.
Here's a look at some of the stories that riveted, shocked and inspired the country in 2021 and some of USA TODAY's best investigative work that made an impact around our nation this year.
They all really happened and in the spirit of 2021, we've included links in case you want to do your own research.
Happy 2022.
►Pictures of 2021: See an image from every day in a life-changing year
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Hundreds prosecuted after attempted insurrection at U.S. Capitol
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Kamala Harris sworn in, first Black, South Asian and female vice president
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Tom Brady wins 7th Super Bowl as Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Kansas City Chiefs
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Flood-prone homeowners could see major rate hikes in FEMA flood insurance changes, new study finds
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Unprecedented winter storm hits South leaving millions without power in Texas for days
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Tiger Woods suffers multiple leg injuries after California car crash
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Popular flea collar linked to almost 1,700 pet deaths. The EPA has issued no warning.
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Millions of Americans receive third round of stimulus checks amid pandemic
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Gunman kills 10 at Colorado supermarket, including police officer, in second US mass shooting in a week
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How did Evergreen's ship get stuck in the Suez Canal?
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Sexual assaults rise as the Peace Corps fails its volunteers
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Employees at federal civil rights watchdog describe their own workplace discrimination, retaliation in Texas
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Gunman kills 8 co-workers at Indianapolis FedEx facility
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Derek Chauvin found guilty on all counts in murder of George Floyd
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America reaches milestone with COVID-19 vaccine widely available to those who want it
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Six women reported a Louisiana college student for sexual misconduct. No one connected the dots
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Colonial Pipeline resumes operations after hackers' crippling ransomware cyberattack
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CDC lifts indoor mask guidelines for fully vaccinated people
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Conservatives want to ban transgender athletes from girls sports. Their evidence is shaky
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How a decade of dysfunction contributed to the Surfside condo collapse
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Southwest cancels hundreds of flights as industry copes with technology, staffing issues
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‘They swept it under the rug’: Prominent cheerleading gym disregards sex abuse allegations
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns after report details sexual harassment claims
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Deadly explosions underscore chaos as U.S. pulls out of Afghanistan
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Hurricane Ida hits Louisiana, leaves victims, damage across 8 states
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Gabby Petito family hopes for 'some good from this awful tragedy'
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Americans stood up to racism in 1961 and changed history. This is their fight, in their words
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Empty shelves? These products were hard to find amid supply chain disruptions
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Moment by moment details of how fatal 'Rust' movie set shooting took place
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As Astroworld disaster unfolded, Houston Fire Department lost contact with private medic group
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Michigan high school shooting leaves 4 students killed, 7 injured; teen suspect, parents charged
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Dead rats, death threats, destroyed careers. How law enforcement punishes its whistleblowers
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Kentucky devastated in winter tornado outbreak that leaves victims in several states