And the (geopolitical) Oscar goes to …

Illustration of a world map with an Academy Award statue
Annie Gugliotta

It's the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday, and we all know that the Oscars often get political. You can expect speeches to reference Russia's war in Ukraine and, of course, US culture-war issues like identity politics. But in this era of political hyper-polarization in America and beyond, we’ve got our own awards to give out.

Here are our picks for a few of the best performances of the past 12 months.

Best Documentary Feature: "The Little Short," by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, based on his get-rich-quick bestseller "Bukele's Guide to Wealth and Fame in Crypto Markets."

Best Cameo/Actress in a Limited TV Miniseries:Liz Truss as British PM.

Lifetime Achievement: Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for "My Trip to Taipei," a tour de force in DNGAF about the geopolitical consequences of my actions.

Best Costume Design: US Rep. (and alleged serial liar) George Santos (R-NY) as a drag queen in Brazil.

Best Editing: Xi Jinping for ending zero-COVID in China — and all references to it too.

Best Special Effects: The US/Russia/pro-Ukrainian group/we'll-never-know-who for the Nord Stream pipeline explosion.

Best Sound Editing in Parliament/Exit From the Party: Former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern.

Best Screenplay/Cinematography: C-SPAN for "The House Speaker Fight," an unexpectedly riveting story of failed votes, failed fistfights, and failed leadership in the US Congress.

Best Remake: Jair Bolsonaro, director of the 8 de Janeiro reboot of January 6.

Best Picture: "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Balloon," a Kubrick-esque Cold War 2.0 satire featuring Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, and a floating weapon of mass puns.

The one nominee that, for real, we definitely want to win the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature is “Navalny.” Watch our interview with director Daniel Roher to find out why. Also, if you have your own picks, let us know here and we might include a few in the next edition.

More from GZERO Media

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies during his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing in January.
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Sipa USA

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced his department of Health and Human Services will eliminate 10,000 full-time positions in addition to the 10,000 who’ve left voluntarily through early retirement offers. The HHS roster will drop from 82,000 to 62,000 employees, and its divisions will go from 28 to 15.

Volkswagen export cars are seen at the port of Emden, Germany, beside a VW plant.
Fabian Bimmer/File Photo

On Wednesday, ahead of what Donald Trump is calling “Liberation Day,” when the administration plans to unveil a series of “reciprocal” tariffs, the president signed an executive order levying 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts made outside the United States. The tariffs will come into effect on April 2.

Jess Frampton

Canada’s federal election is on. The polls show a polarized contest between the Liberals and Conservatives, one dominated by Donald Trump and the question of who’s best suited to deal with his tariff and annexation threats. Canadian nationalism has surged. The Liberal Party, recently down 25 points in the polls to the Conservatives, have seen their fortunes turn around under new leader and Prime Minister Mark Carney – a man who’s been all too keen to, ahem, adapt ideas from his top rival.

From left, FBI Director Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, testify during the House Select Intelligence Committee hearing titled “Worldwide Threats Assessment,” in Longworth building on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The witnesses fielded questions on the Signal chat, about attacks against Houthis in Yemen, that accidentally included a reporter.
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Sipa USA

The Signal-gate repercussions continue, after The Atlantic published screenshots of senior White House officials discussing war plans over the messaging app.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro walks after the Supreme Court voted that he should stand trial for allegedly attempting a coup after his 2022 electoral defeat, in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 26, 2025.
REUTERS/Adriano Machado

The Supreme Court ordered the former president to stand trial for his alleged efforts to overturn the last election, raising the prospect of the 70-year-old ending up behind bars and imperiling his hopes of running for office in 2026.

Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan gestures to soldiers inside the presidential palace after the Sudanese army said it had taken control of the building in the capital Khartoum, Sudan, on March 26, 2025.
Sudan Transitional Sovereignty Council/Handout via REUTERS

The Sudanese Army says it has captured full control of Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group it has been battling in a brutal civil war for over two years. The army has seized key locations, including the presidential palace and the airport.

NPR's Katherine Maher and PBS's Paula Kerger are sworn in at a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2025.
Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire via Reuters

House Republicans openly questioned whether public news outlets should receive $535 million in federal funds.

- YouTube

The Signal chat leak about bombing the Houthis is serious, but what it reveals is even more troubling, according to Ian Bremmer. Trump’s advisers are debating major decisions behind closed doors… but the president might never hear them. In this Quick Take, Ian explains why that’s a global risk.