Our work made a powerful impact in the world this year. Please help us fund more fearless journalism like this in 2025

Next year is going to be an enormous challenge for the free press in the US. We hope you will consider making a gift to the Guardian in this final stretch of our year-end appeal

Here are 20 stories from our US reporting teams this year that held the powerful to account, exposed hidden truths, helped change lives and secure justice for people across America.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of our readers: thank you so much from everyone at the Guardian for your support.