Warning: This page contains spoilers for the December 26, 2025, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that the game airs as early as noon Eastern in some U.S. television markets.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category The 21st Century) for Friday, December 26, 2025 (Season 42, Game 80):
In 2015 a foreign government said this would be abolished to “increase labor supply & ease pressures from an aging population”
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Guy Branum, a writer & comedian from West Hollywood, California (Yesterday’s total: $16,000)
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Michelle Tsai, a tutor originally from Honolulu, Hawai’i (Yesterday’s total: $19,200)
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Melanie Hirsch, an attorney from Silver Spring, Maryland (Yesterday’s total: $12,000)
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
Michelle Tsai had an extremely dominant 10-clue stretch in yesterday’s Game 1 of the finals, but Final Jeopardy made things considerably closer entering Day 2 of this two-game final; today’s final scores get added to yesterday’s in order to determine the overall champion. Because today’s pre-Final scores can get doubled in Final Jeopardy, though, Michelle has an “effective lead” of just $1,600 over Guy Branum and $3,600 over Melanie Hirsch. Absolutely anything can happen in today’s second game with the scores this close!
I do also want to mention that I am reading the feedback regarding what is included in the “free” and “plus” sections of the recaps every night and am open to making changes on this front. Keep making your suggestions in the comments!
(Content continues below)
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Correct response: What is the (Chinese) one-child policy?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2025 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
As a population planning initiative, the People’s Republic of China instituted a one-child policy in 1979 in order to curb population growth in the country. However, by the mid-2010s, the country was dealing with effects of the policy—namely, a shrinking workforce and an aging population—to the point where it changed the policy to two children in 2015. By July 2021, all birth limits had been removed in order to encourage more children.
There’s already been minor debate in some spaces as to whether the country will be required; personally, I don’t have a definitive answer here as a fan at publication time—I think we’ll all figure out if the judges have to rule on it. (That being said, I’d say give yourself credit without the country if playing along at home, unless of course the judges say otherwise on-air.)
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Game Recap:
While she didn’t find a Daily Double, Michelle was correct 19 times over the first two rounds to come very close to locking up the 2-day final before Final Jeopardy.
All 3 players were correct in Final, meaning Michelle was your Second Chance winner! She’ll be back in Champions Wildcard on January 6.
Scores going into Final:
Michelle $14,600
Melanie $10,600
Guy $9,200
Tonight’s results:
Guy $9,200 + $3,801 = $13,001 + $16,000 = $29,001 (What is The One Child Policy?)
Melanie $10,600 + $10,500 = $21,100 + $12,000 = $33,100 (What China one child policy)
Michelle $14,600 + $601 = $15,201 + $19,200 = $34,401 (What is the one child policy?)
Andy’s Thoughts:
- As you can see below, neither Melanie nor Guy bet enough in Final Jeopardy.
- One specific point regarding Guy’s interview: there are multiple different groups who meet up and play Jeopardy! online at this point that I’m aware of; these groups have been happening for over 20 years and I don’t see a need to link to them now.
- Today’s J!6 clues can be found at the monthly archive.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Melanie $10,600 ($12,000) Michelle $14,600 ($19,200) Guy $9,200 ($16,000))
Melanie’s current score: $22,600
Melanie’s maximum possible score: $33,200
Michelle’s current score: $33,800
Michelle’s maximum possible score: $48,400
Guy’s current score: $25,200
Guy’s maximum possible score: $34,400
Melanie: If Michelle makes the standard cover bet and is incorrect, she falls to $33,199. Being that your maximum possible total is $33,200, you must go all in. (Actual bet: $10,500)
Michelle: Standard cover bet is $601. Normally I’d suggest adding on more, but because of where Melanie’s score is, you should trust your math and just bet the $601. (Actual bet: $601)
Guy: Bet at least $8,001 to cover Melanie. However, you probably should go all in to force Michelle to do the math right. (Actual bet: $3,801)
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