Newsweek's 10 Most Read News Stories of 2023

A lot happened in 2023.

From Donald Trump's historic four indictments to the tragic implosion of a submersible carrying five people to the Titanic in June, Newsweek has reported on the biggest and most memorable stories of the year.

But while those have captivated Newsweek readers, others that made the list of most read articles includes one about changes to Microsoft's Xbox settings and 18-egg cartons being sold for just $2.

Here's are Newsweek's 10 most read news stories of 2023:

10. Hurricane Norma Spaghetti Models Show Path for Texas

This well-read article reported on spaghetti models that showed that Hurricane Norma could hit Texas. Once a Category 4 hurricane, Norma ultimately came ashore as a Category 1 near the Mexican resort of Los Cabos on October 21 before being downgraded to a tropical storm.

9. Germany Will Deploy Troops for First Time Since World War II

Earlier this month, Newsweek reported that a new agreement between Germany and Lithuania will lead to German troops being permanently deployed abroad for the first time since the end of World War II. German troops, including those with families, will be stationed in the Lithuanian cities of Kaunas and Vilnius starting in 2024, with most troops deployed in 2025 and 2026 and full-operation capability expected by 2027. In turn, Lithuania has committed to providing all necessary civilian and military infrastructure.

8. Supreme Court Reconsiders Case to Reinstate Trump

This February article reported on the Supreme Court reconsidering whether or not to hear a lawsuit that sought to remove Joe Biden and reinstate former President Donald Trump to office. The court had declined to consider the suit in January, but plaintiff Raland Brunson filed an appeal. The high court later declined again to hear the case.

7. Microsoft's Changes to Xbox Console Leave Republicans Outraged

Microsoft earlier this year announced changes to its Xbox console settings that allow users to save energy and reduce the carbon impact of their gaming. But the move was interpreted by conservatives, including Sen. Ted Cruz, as the "woke brigade" coming for their consoles. However, Blaine Hauglie, technical program manager at Xbox, explained that the settings "will not affect performance, gameplay, or your console's ability to receive overnight updates" and can be adjusted "at any time" so users can choose "what works best for you."

6. 'Sound of Freedom' Funder Fabian Marta Arrested for Child Kidnapping

Marta, one of the thousands of donors who crowdfunded the Sound of Freedom movie, was arrested and charged in July with accessory to child kidnapping. Newsweek reported that Facebook posts that have since been removed appeared to show the same person sharing their pride in funding the film, which dramatizes the story of anti-child sex-trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad and its founder, Tim Ballard. The charges against Marta have been dropped, USA Today reported in October.

5. Close-Up Video Shows Texas Floating Barrier Has Circular Saws

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has taken many steps in his multi-billion effort to secure the U.S. border with Mexico. Among the most controversial was the installation in July of a 1,000-foot floating barrier in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass. Rep. Sylvia Garcia shared a video that shows the buoys have circular saws between them. She wrote that she was "appalled by the ongoing and inhumane tactics employed by @GovAbbott at the Texas border." Mexican authorities have said that bodies had been recovered from the river, including at least one that was caught in the barrier.

4. Donald Trump Stung by Court Filing on Thanksgiving

The former president's legal woes made many headlines in 2023 and that trend is sure to continue in 2024. This article reported on a filing the Department of Justice submitted on Thanksgiving Day, arguing that a gag order in Trump's election subversion case in Washington must remain in place. In the filing, Cecil VanDevender, an attorney on special counsel Jack Smith's team, pointed to a document detailing the "hundreds of threatening and harassing voicemail messages" sent to Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing Trump's civil fraud trial in New York, since the former president started attacking the judge and his clerk.

3. Walmart's $2 Eggs Spark Concerns, Questions

As Americans continued to grapple with high prices this year, it's not surprising that a February article about cheap eggs attracted its fair share of readers. A Walmart store in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, attracted attention for selling 18-egg cartons for just $2. Farm Action President Joe Maxwell told Newsweek that the Walmart store was "selling the eggs at below the wholesale price" reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A Walmart spokesperson said the company was "committed to providing the best prices so our customers can save money and live better."

2. Photos Show Hawaii Covered in Snow as Temperatures Plunge

Newsweek's second-most read story of the year featured pictures of an unusual sight: a snowy Hawaii. Meteorologists shared photos of the snow-filled scenes after almost half a foot of snow fell at the Mauna Kea Weather Center on the Mauna Kea volcano earlier in December. Although the images shocked some, it's not actually uncommon for snow to fall on Hawaii's volcanic peaks, given some are above 13,000 feet.

1. Videos of 'Titan Submersible Implosion' and 'Screams' Flood Social Media

The story of the submersible that went missing while carrying five people to the Titanic in the North Atlantic in June sparked worldwide headlines. Initial hopes that the men could be found alive were dashed when authorities announced the submersible had imploded near the site of the shipwreck. Newsweek's most read story of the year reported on videos that were circulating on TikTok that purported to reveal audio footage of the moment the Titan imploded and some claiming to feature screams from within the vessel. TikTok later took the videos down.

Update 12/28/23, 3:25 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to note that the charges against Fabian Marta have been dropped.