Today’s 5-minute brief tracks phase-change indicators across the United States and globally. We cover winter storm after-effects and infrastructure strain in the U.S., the partial federal government shutdown and second-order impacts, continued Russian strikes on energy infrastructure during winter, regime-stability signals and communications suppression abroad, Arctic geopolitical pressure involving Greenland, and what all of this means for preparedness right now. This brief focuses on what matters, why it matters, and what practical steps you can take today — without spin or sensationalism. Included: • U.S. weather and infrastructure stress • Russia-Ukraine energy targeting • Domestic unrest and enforcement posture • Government capacity and shutdown friction • Global geopolitical pressure points • BTC, gold, and silver prices