It’s just another Manic Monday, as The Bangles so perfectly sang, and today, the internet is buzzing louder than a coffee grinder at dawn. Between viral Starbucks hysteria, government shutdown drama, and promises of “free” everything in New York, you’d think it was a full moon.

Let’s start with the latest caffeine craze. Starbucks has once again tapped into our collective FOMO with a limited-edition bear cup. Yes, people are actually camping overnight for a cup. Not a concert. Not Black Friday. A cup. Social media looks like a pop-up tent city outside select stores, proving that when it comes to hype and collectibles, corporate America knows exactly how to stir the pot, especially when that pot is filled with a $7 latte.

Meanwhile, over on TikTok, liberal creators are melting down over what they’re calling a betrayal by “establishment Democrats.” The reason? The decision to reopen the government rather than hold the line on Obamacare subsidy negotiations. Senator Chuck Schumer defended the move, saying these subsidies are vital to keep health insurance “affordable.” But affordable for whom? Many Americans, especially middle-class families, watched their premiums skyrocket when the Affordable Care Act rolled out. Affordable care has become anything but, leaving small business owners and gig workers scrambling to choose between coverage and rent.

And then there’s New York, where Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s socialist wish list is running headlong into reality. Free buses for all sounds nice until someone has to pay the bill. Spoiler alert: that someone is always the taxpayer. The wealthy, as history shows, have the luxury of mobility. They’ll pack up and head to Florida, Texas, or Tennessee faster than you can say “marginal tax rate.” The exodus from California should’ve been a warning sign, but ideology rarely bows to economics.

Still, amidst the chaos, I find myself feeling thankful. Thankful for the eight brave Democrats who crossed party lines to end the shutdown. Politics aside, their decision means TSA agents, air traffic controllers, and federal workers can breathe a sigh of relief. It means safe air travel resumes, paychecks restart, and thousands of families won’t face eviction or hunger heading into the holidays.

In a world where extremism often overshadows empathy, pragmatism deserves a standing ovation.

So, as we sip our overpriced coffee and scroll through another week of online outrage, maybe we can pause to appreciate the sanity in the madness; the small acts of leadership that still keep the wheels turning.

Because yes, it’s just another Manic Monday, but I, for one, am grateful it’s not a standstill.