#Winners and #Losers: DNA Discounts

The Week in Tech Companies Taking Responsibility

Winner: Microsoft—pledged $500 million to build affordable housing units in Seattle, where housing costs have exploded thanks to the presence of big tech firms (in addition to Microsoft, Amazon is based in the region as well). Microsoft hopes that taking such a proactive stance will set an example for other tech companies to follow suit and help address problems in their communities. #WindowsForWindows

Loser: Facebook—vows this week to donate $300 million dollars to local journalism projects. While the money is obviously very much appreciated (and needed) to ensure that local journalism thrives in this new media environment we’re all living in, it still doesn’t make up for the fact that Facebook was the driving force behind this new media environment we’re all living in. #PennyForYourThoughts #MillionsForOurConscience

The Week in Surviving No-Confidence Votes

Winner: Alexis Tsipras—the Greek prime minister successfully managed the collapse of his coalition government this week, enticing juuuuuuuust enough sitting members of parliament to break ranks with their own parties to vote in favor of his government remaining in power (he secured 151 votes out of 300 total). While all the polls point to his party’s defeat in elections later this year, it still remains an impressive bit of politicking. #CrunchTimePlayer

Loser: Theresa May—sure, the British prime minister survived her confidence vote this week, but only after her Brexit deal suffered the worst defeat seen in British parliament in nearly a century. And now she has to come up with an alternative to her Brexit deal by Monday. #NoRestForTheWeary

The Week in Trolling

Winner: Canada—Canadian air traffic controllers this week sent pizzas to their US counterparts who remained on the job despite the US government shutdown. While I’m 100% certain this was done with the very best of intentions, it also happens to be the most Canadian way to troll a bunch of folks that I could think of. #KillingWithKindness

Loser: Donald Trump—Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi rescinded her invitation this week for Donald Trump to deliver the State of the Union in a couple weeks’ time, citing security concerns stemming from the ongoing US government shutdown. Trump held his fire and responded 24 hours later… by cancelling Pelosi’s trip to Afghanistan to visit the troops, which he referred to as a “public relations event.” Both sides are undoubtedly playing politics here, but one side is playing it a heck of a lot better. #KnifeToAGunFight 

The Week in Viral Ads

Winner: Mexico—Mexico’s national carrier this week unveiled a promotion that offers American passengers a discount on flights to Mexico proportionate to the amount of Mexican ancestry they have. Leaving aside the promotion itself, the accompanying video features interviews with Americans who dislike even the idea of traveling to Mexico, only to have them rethink their positions once they’re informed of how much they can save because of their Mexican ancestry. Taking a polarizing political issue and turning it on its head like this is nothing short of brilliant. #AboveAndBeyond

Loser: America—the razor company Gillette released a controversial video this week denouncing the era of “toxic masculinity,” setting off a frenetic new chapter in the country’s culture wars. But here’s the thing: when we have to look to our razor companies for social commentary (no matter how accurate or warranted that commentary may be), it’s a sign that there’s something fundamentally wrong with social discourse in this country. #CuttingDeep 

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Ian Bremmer is president of Eurasia Group, foreign affairs columnist at TIME and Global Research Professor at New York University. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.