>>7
Everyone on that editorial team would need to score zero on agreeableness or have a valid autism diagnosis, because the Current Thing, by its nature, is a total mind virus.
You'd need to adjust for region as well. Some Current Things are global, but some are not. Abortion probably is limited to the US as a Current Thing, although it's telling that the EU and Canada both felt the need to weigh in.
Here in Canada, we had a six month Current Thing about the alleged (still never proven) discovery of mass graves at residential schools for indigenous people. There were church burnings, marches, attacks on statues, and all that. I think you're right about the lawn ornament marker. The signature of that one was the sudden appearance of orange shirts everywhere. On people, in windows, and even hanging from trees in front yards.