In the seven observations & reflections below I offer some of my own initial sensemaking as part of a broader conversation happening now. These points reflect my own experiences from a viewpoint of awareness-based systems change: the idea that for deep change to happen, we need to focus not only on the social systems “above the ground”, but also on the deeper conditions of social soil.
Otto Scharmer
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Jun
11
2025
The impunity of the unscathed: Risk, elite security, and the rage of MAGA populism
by Nils Gilman in Small Precautions…MAGA, in its rawest form, embodies the fury of those who feel that the burden of these risks has been disproportionately...
Jun
10
2025
Chartbook 380 Trump’s futurism: Elon’s rockets and fewer dolls for “baby girl” – Part I.
by Adam Tooze in Chartbook 380…They characterize Trump’s politics as “end times fascism”, a politics which rather than constructively seeking to form a liveable...
Apr
29
2025
If you want peace, prepare for war—an ancient lesson Canada must remember
by Thomas Homer-Dixon at The Cascade Institute…If you want peace, prepare for war. This ancient Roman aphorism is starkly relevant to Canada’s situation today, no...
Apr
03
2025
Martial Law: A Guide
by Sincerely, T…Martial law can dramatically alter daily life and limit personal freedoms. Remaining informed, prepared, and organized is essential. If resistance...
Mar
21
2025
The militia and the mole
by Joshua Kaplan in Propublica…A Freelance Vigilante: A wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover, climbing the ranks of right-wing militias. He didn’t...
Feb
26
2025
Blueprint 2025; Gerry Salole in conversation with Lucy Bernholz
Youtube conversation between Gerry Salole and Lucy Bernholz…We are deeply moved to share insights from an extraordinary dialogue between Lucy Bernholz and Gerry...
Feb
25
2025
At some nonprofits, a delicate balance of grief and strategy
by Sara Herschander in The Chronicle of Philanthropy…After the election, many leaders are balancing emotional support for rattled staff with practical...
Feb
24
2025
There are many ways Trump could trigger a global collapse. Here’s how to survive if that happens
by George Monbiot in The Guardian…It could be wildfires, a pandemic or a financial crisis. The super-rich will flee to their bunkers – the rest of us will have to...
Feb
18
2025
Our common purpose
from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences…Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century, a report of the American Academy’s...
Jan
27
2025
Left organizing is in crisis. Philanthropy is a major reason why.
by Nina Luo in The Nation…Progressive philanthropy lacks good strategy, so too many of our organizations are hollow—and that left us unable to prevent a second...