Welcome to 2025, where the world feels less like a utopian sci-fi novel and more like a snarky satire that forgot to end. From climate chaos and AI overlords to influencers losing their grip on culture, these predictions reflect a society on the brink of reinvention—or just exhaustion. Whether it’s the death of originality, the collapse of legacy institutions, or the reemergence of that one dude who tried to get you to buy crypto, one thing’s certain: the future doesn’t look like a polished Apple keynote—it’s messy, critical, and painfully human.

The team here at the Catto Collective, along with some of our friends, are dropping our hottest predictions and trying to prepare for the clusterf$%k that awaits us.

Buckle up because 2025 might be the year the plot twists get weird.

Civic Engagement

1. Growing Civic Apathy: Combating apathy in government and politics will be a huge challenge in 2025. Between an intense presidential election, constant updates from Washington that leave constituents disenchanted by the current political climate, and the day-to-day slog of dealing with inflation, natural disasters, and everything else, the news has been unrelenting and people are understandably exhausted, making the idea of checking out very appealing.  But we can’t let that feeling win – this moment presents an opportunity for us to rebuild trust and drive meaningful change, starting with action at the local level.

• Nonprofit Executive in the Civic Engagement Space

Education

1. Dissolution of the Dept. of Ed: The Department of Education will exist, if only to turn the Office of Civil Rights into an engine for investigating allegations of reverse discrimination against white people and silencing of white nationalists on campuses.

• Federal Education Policy Thought Leader

2. PASSHE’s Big Gamble: PASSHE is consolidating campuses and calling it “efficiency.” Critics might call it “desperation.” Will it save the system or just plaster over deeper structural issues? Odds are on the latter.

• Mário Da Costa, Catto Collective Principal

Environment

1. The Nuclear Reemergence: Three Mile Island and Microsoft cut a deal last year. Under the agreement, Microsoft bought all of the electricity Three Mile Island will generate for the next 20 years. Why? The energy demand from AI.  Other tech companies are also planning large investments in nuclear energy, like Amazon, which announced late last year that it was investing $500 million in nuclear power. Expect this to continue.

• Alain Xiong-Calmes, Former Northeast US Political Director for Harris-Walz

2. Mad Max-Esque Land Wars: By 2025, the United States may increasingly resemble a Mad Max-like landscape as climate disasters such as California’s devastating wildfires, Gulf Coast hurricanes, and Southwestern droughts displace thousands, creating the country’s first wave of “first-world climate refugees.” With states battling over scarce resources like water and wealthy regions fortifying themselves against disaster, the growing inequalities could spark domestic unrest and violent clashes. In this fractured environment, a militarized federal response to manage internal migration and resource conflicts may mirror the dystopian survivalism seen in any iteration of Mad Max.

• Mário Da Costa, Catto Collective Principal

Regulatory Markets

1. Big Mergers Guy: 2025 will be the start of an age of massive mergers and acquisitions (M&A) due to deregulation. On top of that, expect Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to go private – outside of the current government conservatorship. My guess is that the sale will be done as a means of offsetting the Trump tax cuts – the new administration needs a way to reduce the impact of the bill and impact the overall calculus.

• Senior Legal Counsel in the Tech and Gaming Sectors

2. Was That Crypto Reddit Thread Right?: Although President Trump said in 2019 that he was “not a fan of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies,” Trump has already announced several appointments that will be crypto-friendly. Paul Aktins for SEC Commissioner, David Sacks as White House A.I. & Crypto Czar, and a forthcoming Presidential Council of Advisors for Digital assets that will include “luminaries from the Crypto industry.”  With these appointments, there will be a significant shift in crypto regulation, as President Biden’s SEC Commissioner Gary Gensler and the digital asset industry were frequently in conflict.

• Alain Xiong-Calmes, Former Northeast US Political Director for Harris-Walz

3. Tariffs Tighten the Purse Strings: Inflation will worsen under the Trump Administration. While Trump’s plan to implement tariffs may provide a short-term fix, it will likely cause significant long-term pain, as businesses pass costs onto consumers. Expect household budgets to tighten further, exacerbating economic disparity and creating new challenges for working-class families.

• Crystal Eley, Television Broadcast Professional

Immigration

1. Community Impacts of Deportation: Pennsylvania will begin to prioritize immigration if deportations are carried out as it will cause inflation to rise with a sharp drop in population, as deportations may impact everyday people from small business owners to parents dropping off their kids at school. One day to the next, we won’t see someone who we know and consider a friend, all because they were detained and targeted for their immigration status.

• Julio Rodriguez, Political Director for the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC)

Movement Building

1. Changing Up the Playbook: There will be more investment in building political power outside of traditional political parties or well established organizations. The backlash to a big tent/broad messaging provides opportunity for going deeper on one to one models like deep canvassing.

• Paula Phillips, Director of Political Talent Management at New Politics

2. Shifting Political Narratives: Local races will be impacted by candidates’ stance on immigration, it is likely that pro-immigrant candidates will win and the immigrant narrative will begin to shift towards pro-immigration in the next election at the local level.

• Thought Leader in Electoral and Immigration Policy

3. Deeper Ties to Electeds: Future campaign success will be born out of the existing communities in a way that emphasizes authenticity and organic development. The parties and politicians that are successful will integrate themselves seamlessly into peoples’ regular lives and focus on trust building. We have gamified political strategy in such a way that has staffers and electeds alike competing over imaginary points in the form of metrics, headlines, photos, legislative gambits, or any other form of insider scoring. All of it turns to dust when compared to being rooted in the neighborhood and relational organizing never goes out of style. The work is best done with a genuine appreciation for the people around us.

• Senior Staff Member of the PA Senate

4. A Step Towards the Center – Dems Forgo Liberalism: In 2025, Democrats may ditch their progressive ideals for a safe, centrist makeover, hoping to woo swing voters after a shaky 2024. The move could placate suburban moderates but risks turning their base into the very “enthusiasm gap” they love to blame for losses. Trading bold vision for bland compromise might win battlegrounds, but it’s a surefire way to lose the party’s soul.

• Mário Da Costa, Catto Collective Principal

Political

1. Majorities At Risk: Republicans’ majority teeters as Matt Gaetz’s resignation leaves the Republicans with 219 sitting members, the smallest House majority since 1931.  With President Trump selecting two more House Republicans to serve in his administration (Rep. Elise Stefanik as U.N. Ambassador and Rep. Michael Waltz to be national security advisor), that’ll bring Speaker Johnson’s majority down to 217 – 215, meaning a single Republican defection can tank a bill. Given such a tight majority, there is almost no way moderates and hard-right conservatives in the House Republican Caucus will be able to stay unified.

• Alain Xiong-Calmes, Former Northeast US Political Director for Harris-Walz

2. Crumbling of the Gerontocracy in Modern Politics: 2025 may mark a turning point as frustrations with aging leadership intensify, driven by the disconnect between younger generations and political elites in their 70s and 80s. Expect a wave of retirements, primary challenges, and demands for term limits or age caps as younger leaders push for a reimagined political order that reflects 21st-century realities. As Gen Z and Millennials expand their political influence, a focus on tech-savvy governance and progressive policy frameworks may redefine the power dynamics of global leadership.

• Mário, Catto Collective Principal

3. Oligarchy: As American as Apple Pie?: Memes of “shadow president” Elon Musk are already circulating, painting him as the real shot-caller in the incoming administration. Trump openly flaunts his relationships with billionaires and strongmen worldwide, while Biden sounded the alarm in his farewell address this week, warning of the dangers of concentrated wealth and power. As AOC bluntly put it, “I don’t think we’re headed to American oligarchy… it’s already here.” The reality of power being held by a select few is nothing new, but the political and economic strain on middle Americans could push us toward a tipping point. If Democrats are smart, they’ll seize this moment to champion progressive populism, crafting rhetoric that resonates with voters as they prepare for the midterms.

•  Wallace Weaver, Catto Collective Principal

4. The Great (Federal) Resignation: At least one Trump cabinet member will resign for misusing public funds. That’s what I spent my first summer in law school investigating. Expect to see history repeat itself.”

• Chris Lin – Former Law Clerk, US Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee

5. Intra-Party Squabbles Jeopardize Congressional Gains: Republicans will have squandered at least one of their chances to make major budget shifts via reconciliation because of infighting. They will find a way to enact draconian border and immigration policies and to extend + expand Trump tax cuts, because xenophobia and tax avoidance are the only things holding them together.

• Federal Education Policy Thought Leader

6. Fetterman Inherits the Manchin Mantle: With Joe Manchin’s departure from the Senate, John Fetterman will emerge as the pseudo-dealmaker that both parties will lean on to navigate a narrow minority—or majority. Faced with a divided Senate and an emboldened Republican majority in the House, Fetterman could prioritize pragmatic compromises over ideological purity to secure funding for Pennsylvania or prevent legislative gridlock. While this approach may bolster his image as a working-class champion who “gets things done,” it risks alienating progressives who once viewed him as a symbol of unapologetic left-wing populism.

• Mário, Catto Collective Principal

State/Local:

1. A Little More Money in My Pockets: With State GOP looking to hold on to the majority, 2025 will be a prime opportunity for PA legislators to finally raise the minimum wage. PA currently sits at last place in the nation with a min. wage of $7.25.

• Wallace Weaver, Catto Collective Principal

2. Funding the Unfundable: After years of legal wrangling, Pennsylvania’s promise to inject billions into underfunded schools sounds great—if it ever happens. The real test? Whether lawmakers can cut through red tape faster than another lawsuit piles on.

• Mário Da Costa, Catto Collective Principal

3. A Fumble into a Fortune?: The Parker Administration will announce a new proposal to revitalize the Market-East business corridor. With plans to relocate the Sixers Arena to downtown Philly now abandoned, the administration is eager to fill the void. At a recent press conference, the mayor, Comcast, and other stakeholders emphasized their commitment to replacing 76 Place with a revenue-generating project—though specifics remain elusive. The “what” seems secondary for now, but the “why” is clear: breathe life into the long-struggling corridor. Since the fall of The Gallery (IKYKY), a successful overhaul of Market-East would mark a major victory for Philly’s 100th mayor.

• Wallace Weaver, Catto Collective Principal

Healthcare:

1. Healthcare Hunger Games: Working-class families will be left to fend for themselves as drastic cuts to SNAP and WIC shred the social safety net. With fewer resources for essentials like food and healthcare, the gap between political rhetoric and real-world suffering will grow even wider, turning survival into a daily battle.

• Wallace Weaver, Catto Collective Principal

2. A National Ban Looms: Given the balance of power in Congress, The White House, and the Supreme Court, we could very soon see a national ban on gender-affirming care for youth. This would devastate families seeking essential healthcare and force trans youth into an even more precarious position, sparking legal challenges and escalating political battles over bodily autonomy.

• Ash Tifa, Trans Legal Advocate and Community Organizer

Violence Prevention

1. The Work Persists: As social media platforms like TikTok and X have become the de facto sources for resources and knowledge sharing, a misconception persists that violence continues unchecked. In reality, youth and local leaders actively work to change the narrative and reduce community stigmas within marginalized communities by implementing community-led programs driven by individuals with lived experience.

• Violence Prevention Advocate

Hot Take Zone 

1. Channel Surfing: Legacy media keeps hemorrhaging viewers, but the age of “newsfluencers” is here. Social media personalities will shape more opinions than cable anchors ever could. That said, SNL ratings will spike as Alec Baldwin and the cast dust off their Trump material, capitalizing on the political chaos of the moment. The parody will write itself—whether that’s good comedy or just low-hanging fruit remains to be seen.
2. Same Faces, Different Spaces: Speaker Johnson will be Speaker. Pete Hegseth will not be Secretary of Defense (if he gets confirmed, he won’t last a year).
3. Manifest Destiny 2.0?: The territory of the US will remain unchanged, but at least some people will suffer due to some misguided expeditionary exercises.
4. Companies Stay in their Lanes: The corporate embrace of “woke branding” will face backlash from all sides—progressives demanding action over optics, and conservatives railing against “virtue signaling.” Companies may pivot to apolitical branding to dodge controversy altogether.
5. The Great Social Media Exodus: Disillusionment with algorithm-driven echo chambers and constant surveillance will drive millions off mainstream platforms like Twitter (X) and platforms now aligned to Republican ideals around freedom from censorship. Decentralized networks and private communities may rise, but the internet’s golden age of connectivity will feel like a relic.
6. Broadway, Breakups, and Grande Gold: Ariana Grande wins Best Supporting Actress for her role in Wicked, cementing her status as a pop culture powerhouse. However, her acceptance speech might double as a breakup announcement—“Sorry, next” to current boyfriend Ethan Slater. Prepare for memes, music, and melodrama to flood your feed. -Ash Tifa, Trans Legal Advocate and Community Organizer
7. Fly Eagles Fly! Howie Roseman, GM of the Philadelphia Eagles, has proven to be an absolute DAWG in the executive suite, consistently finding ways to strengthen an already elite roster. Regardless of our current playoff run, if there’s one thing we can be 100% confident in – it’s Howie. The Eagles are poised to bring in reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball—possibly even landing All-Pro Defensive End Myles Garrett—and will once again dominate the NFC East. Go Birds!