A lot of Americans entered 2021 with optimism.
A COVID-19 vaccine led many to believe the pandemic was on its last legs. But today we’re still very much in it, and it’s shaped much of our year.
Here's a look at five big stories that affected national and North Carolina politics:
1. COVID-19
A vaccine enabled many people to avoid serious health damage or death, but the politics over the shots have opened a major new divide among Americans.
School board meetings turned vitriolic as opponents of mask mandates clashed with officials over what prevention measures to take.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper pushed for more people to get the vaccine, but today more than 40 percent of the population still isn’t fully vaccinated (children under the age of five aren't eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine yet).
The year is ending similar to the way we started, with the number of infections surging. The difference is the availability of the vaccine.
2. January 6
The attack on the Capitol was something modern America had never seen.
Rioters stormed inside as lawmakers debated whether to certify Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election.
More than a dozen North Carolinians have been charged with taking part in the insurrection and former North Carolina congressman Mark Meadows faces potential criminal contempt charges for not cooperating with the House committee investigating the attack.
3. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
In a time when the words “Republican" and “Democrat" seem to represent different languages, members from both sides of the aisle came together on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending bill.
Some of the money will be used to improve roads and bridges and create electric vehicle charging stations.
While the word “bipartisan" became a little loose by the time it reached the House, and no Republican House members from North Carolina voted for the bill, the spending will have a big impact on North Carolina over the next decade.
4. Redistricting
The Republican-controlled state legislature redrew the congressional map to give the GOP an advantage.
It led one longtime Democratic congressman, G.K. Butterfield, to announce his retirement.
But now the new district lines face court challenges.
The state Supreme Court already has delayed next year's primary from March to May so the legal battles can play out. That played a role in Democratic state Sen. Jeff Jackson dropping out of the U.S. Senate race.
Now, we sit in limbo as to what will happen with those redistricted maps...
A trial starts the first week of January with control of Congress potentially hanging in the balance.
5. President Joe Biden’s First Year in Office
His supporters point to passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law, a COVID relief bill, a falling unemployment rate and improved relations with world leaders as his major accomplishments.
His critics seize on the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the surge in COVID cases and the failure to pass the Build Back Better Act.
Biden ran on restoring the soul of America. It’s unclear whether America found its soul this year or if that mission is still a work in progress.