Feeling a big shift after Thanksgiving weekend? You’re not the only one.
We're in the midst of a massive recalibration, and it's showing up everywhere. In courtrooms where judges are blocking authoritarian overreach, auction houses where women's art is finally being valued at record-breaking prices, and in city halls where 70,000 people are lining up to work for a government that actually serves them. This is what transformation looks like on a global scale.
Let's look at how this energy has been reshaping the world this week.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Quits Congress: Once one of Trump's staunchest defenders, Marjorie Taylor Greene filed her resignation, effective January 5th. This comes after Trump's refusal to release the Epstein files and his foreign policy focus. Greene declared she refuses to be a "battered wife" and won't be replaced by "Neocons, Big Pharma, Big Tech, Military Industrial War Complex, foreign leaders, and the elite donor class."
Mamdani's Resume Portal Hits 70,000 Applicants: Mamdani's resume portal has received over 70,000 applications in just under three weeks. Last Monday, Mamdani announced over 400 city leaders selected to work on 17 transition committees tasked with making personnel and policy recommendations in the five weeks before his January inauguration. One of the appointed leaders includes trans rabbi Abby Stein, which showcases his commitment to building an inclusive administration.
World's First Saliva Pregnancy Test Available: The world's first saliva pregnancy test, Salistick, is now available in Sydney, Australia pharmacies. This test uses a mouth swab to detect the pregnancy hormone HCG with a claimed 95% accuracy rate—marking the first major breakthrough in pregnancy testing since at-home urine tests were introduced in the 1960s. Time Magazine named it one of the best inventions of 2023, and the technology has gained international recognition for offering women a new alternative to traditional testing methods.
Italy Recognizes Femicide as Criminal Law: Italy's parliament introduced femicide into criminal law, punishable with life in prison, winning bipartisan support and passing with 237 votes in favor on the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women. The law includes stronger measures against gender-based crimes, including stalking and revenge porn.
Frida Kahlo Breaks Auction Records: Frida Kahlo's 1940 painting "El sueño (La cama)" sold for $54.7 million at Sotheby's, breaking the record for the most expensive artwork by a woman ever auctioned, surpassing the previous Kahlo record of $34.9 million. This is historic not only for Kahlo as an artist, but for women artists everywhere.
Germany Classifies Date Rape Drugs as Weapons: Germany plans to classify date rape drugs as weapons in prosecutions, creating the basis for "significantly stricter" penalties. Alongside this, they've approved electronic ankle monitors for domestic violence perpetrators and are funding a national app for victims to secretly document abuse. This multi-pronged approach shows Germany is finally treating violence against women with the seriousness it deserves, creating real consequences for perpetrators and better protection for survivors.
MAGA Influencers Exposed as Foreigners: A new X feature revealing account locations has exposed hundreds of MAGA influencers—some with nearly 400,000 to over a million followers—posting from Russia, Nigeria, Eastern Europe, West Asia, Bangladesh, and Morocco. No major Democratic accounts were found operating outside the US. Russia has been paying right-wing influencers like Tim Pool $400,000 a month to push divisive talking points, and DOJ findings confirm foreign influence operations favoring MAGA dating back to 2016.
Texas Republican Escorted from Church: A Texas Republican crashed an LGBTQ-friendly church service and was escorted out while shouting that the church was using Jesus's name in vain, prompting the church to respond via Facebook that "some people have too much time, too much fear, too little information, and too much hypocrisy." The church emphasized that many who claim to be Christian "exhibit no love, awareness of Jesus' teachings, and no sign of practicing his qualities."
Jersey Same-Sex Parents on Birth Certificates: Jersey changed its law to allow same-sex couples to have both parents' names on birth certificates, ending a discriminatory practice that gave sex couples more legal rights than LGBTQ+ families, and affected couples using fertility treatments or surrogacy. The law includes retrospective changes with waived fees, allowing families to finally have both parents recognized on their child's birth certificate.
Libraries Win Against Trump Defunding: On March 14, the Trump administration defunded 125,000 libraries. Now, federal courts issued a permanent nationwide stop, halting the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, nullifying ALL actions taken against it. All grants in every state and territory must be paid out, and the administration is blocked from taking these actions again in the future.
Ethiopia Receives Historic Artifacts: Germany returned twelve historic artifacts, including crowns, shields, and paintings, to Ethiopia after the Weiss family held them for over 100 years. The pieces are going to Addis Ababa University for public research and academic study. The family stated their intention was to "share their beauty with the public and preserve the culture and history," while Ethiopia's tourism minister called it a milestone in safeguarding cultural heritage, vowing to continue efforts to reclaim artifacts worldwide.
Protesters Carol Outside Home Depot: Holiday carolers from "We Ain't Buying It" gathered in a Home Depot parking lot to protest the company's relationship with ICE. With a modified version of "Feliz Navidad", they sang lyrics like "We don't want no more deportations at the Home Depot parking lot." The protest drew supportive reactions from shoppers who smiled and danced, culminating a call to boycott Home Depot and other companies like Amazon and Target during the holiday season.
Australia Bans Social Media for Teens: Australia implemented a world-first ban requiring social media companies to keep under-16s off platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, with companies facing fines up to $49.5 million for serious breaches, while children and parents face no punishment. Other countries including Denmark, Norway, and Spain are watching closely and considering similar measures, making this a potential global shift in how we protect children online.
We're witnessing what happens when people stop waiting for permission and start building the world they want to see. From Mamdani's 70,000 applicants proving people are hungry for authentic leadership, to libraries winning against federal overreach, to protesters turning holiday carols into political action—this is what collective power looks like.
The old guard is fracturing. Even MTG, one of Trump's most loyal soldiers, got devoured when she dared to prioritize policy over blind allegiance. Meanwhile, foreign actors are being exposed, courts are protecting our resources, and countries are finally recognizing that violence against women deserves life sentences.
But here's what really matters: None of this happened by accident. Every single one of these wins came from people who refused to accept the status quo. People who showed up, spoke out, and demanded better.
The energy this week is asking you to do the same. What old pattern are you ready to break? What new reality are you ready to build?
How will you shift this week?
