Is democracy dying? Here's why — and what to do about it.
In the 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, democracy has been in retreat around the world. Can we build new designs that help it flourish?
Leadership
The Papacy and the Pathway Out
In lieu of effective political leadership, Pope Leo may provide an important cultural counterbalance to emergent global fascism.
A Letter from the Future: Your Crisis is Metaphysical
This dispatch from the not too distant future warns that our current predicament is more metaphysical than political.
'Convergence' Is Here – And We're Not Prepared
American politics is converging towards a vague concept of authoritarian "unity," influenced by a small network of backers.
America's Slide into Authoritarianism, as seen from TED 2025
The main message from TED 2025 wasn't the talks, but America's rapid slide into authoritarianism.
Tariffs Expose Rifts in Fragile MAGA Coalition
Republicans don't agree about tariffs, and we're beginning to see visible discord that can be used to break apart the fragile MAGA coalition.
The Substack Dilemma: How Creators Are Inadvertently Fueling America's Failure
Creators have flocked to Substack because of its ease of use — but that simplicity comes at a steep price.