Why does God punish people?  For disobedience is the short (and long) answer.
 
If you follow Christ, you have light, and He keeps you in His light to avoid hazards and dangers.  John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
 
If you do not, you grope and try to light your path with fairy lights that you have festooned on your Christmas tree.  Promises – Deuteronomy 28:29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee. Fulfilled – Isaiah 59:10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
 
Like Rudy Giuliani who was no sooner ordered to pay the election workers (whom he slandered) $146M when he turned around and filed for bankruptcy: Judge orders Rudy Giuliani to start paying Georgia election workers $146 million (nbcnews.com) & Giuliani seeks bankruptcy after $148 million judgment in defamation case (yahoo.com) 
 
Like California talking about how they will recycle wastewater to use in the TAP! California wastewater to be recycled into tap water, according to new regulations | CNN  Proverbs 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
 
Like Iceland residents complaining about that pesky volcano dashing their hopes of spending Xmas at home: Iceland volcano eruption dashes hopes residents can spend Christmas at home | CNN 
Or all of these amazing works which are like bright neon warnings and reminders if only they could see…
The U.S. – Mexico railway being blocked over migrants: Farm, rail companies urge reopening of US-Mexico crossings shut over migrants | Reuters 
 
GodSmack!
 
When the Senate adjourns to enjoy their Pagan festivities instead of finishing the BUSINESS: Senate adjourns until 2024 without deal on Ukraine, border security  | The Hill 
 
I Corinthians 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
When God sends the wars and rumors of wars…
 
When God exposes the leaders of your Institutions of Higher Learning for the shams they were the whole time: Claudine Gay: New problems found in Harvard president’s work (bbc.com) 
It is all because of your disobedience with idolatry at the TOP of the list of those sins which have a universal impact (i.e. outside of yourself).
Galatians 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
Please put away your idols OR expect more and worse of these punishments as a proper response from God.