I hope you all had a magical Christmas, I took a few days off to spend with the kids, but I’m back again, reading Mary’s incredibly well written roundups with my morning coffee. Today’s roundup reflects on a moment of political volatility marked by impulse, grievance, and spectacle, where major decisions unfold through emotion rather than deliberation. It traces how scandals, foreign policy moves, bureaucratic actions, and cultural ruptures intertwine, revealing a governing style that treats institutions as obstacles and people as expendable.
Against that backdrop, the piece turns toward quieter acts of resistance and humanity, from international allies reinforcing stability to artists, workers, and musicians choosing dignity over compliance.











