The Liminal Learning Portal

Culmination in the Second Trump Administration: A Clausewitzian ReadingCarl von Clausewitz observed that every offensive reaches a culminating point, the moment when accumulated resistance, logistical strain, and sheer chance sap momentum faster than fresh power can be applied. Beyond that threshold, pressing ahead only multiplies risk. Modern doctrine shortens the term to culmination and treats it as a mechanical limit: a force’s capacity peaks and begins to decline.Recent social-media commentary I’ve participated in has used this framework to gauge the trajectory of the Trump administration’s second term. The analysis starts from a simple premise: political power, like military strength, depends on

I’ve been asking myself for a while now: Why are so many people today drawn to oligarchs and demagogues? I recently posted this question on Facebook, and the thread that followed was lively and wide-ranging. Here’s my attempt, with some help from ChatGPT, to synthesize those comments — pulling it all together from my own perspective — while acknowledging the many possible explanations and counterarguments raised in that discussion.Here’s the link to the original Facebook discussion: discussion URL.1. The Education and Literacy DebateSeveral people began by arguing that the problem boils down to a decline in literacy and critical thinking. They suggested that, despite official

— It’s Bigger Than You Think And It’s All About The Wasted Votes There is a lot of talk about a Republican Electoral College advantage — that the Republicans can win an Electoral College majority even though they get fewer popular votes. It is true, and the Republican advantage is bigger than many people realize. In 2020, Joe Biden had a 4.54% margin in the two-party popular vote, yet a change of just 51,399 perfectly allocated votes in Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania would have given the election to Donald Trump. Biden’s popular vote margin would have only slipped to 4.5% of the

This week I look at the hubbub surrounding the introduction of large language chatbots, the latest evolutionarily-potent development in artificial intelligence. A long-time listener asked ChatGPT to write a poem expressing Ken Wilber’s developmental stages. The result (below) is mind-blowing. How is it possible for a machine to create three verses that capture the essence of developmental theory so well? Mind-blowing, yes, but is it beautiful? Can it be beautiful when it was written by a machine? Welcome to humanity’s next stage of understanding itself and our place in the cosmos. ALSO, it’s Trump’s turn in the dock with his

Very good podcast Jeff. Puts a lot of calm into a very chaotic time. – Nils Montan The day before this week’s US presidential election one of my favorite public intellectuals, Sam Harris, released a podcast where he announced a breakthrough in his understanding of what had heretofore been a mystery: the appeal of Donald Trump to his followers. His revelation: Trump offers what no priest can credibly offer: a total expiation of shame. His personal shamelessness is a kind of spiritual balm. Trump is fat Jesus. He’s grab-them-by-the-pussy Jesus. He’s I’ll-eat- cheeseburgers-if-I-want-to Jesus. He’s punch-them-in-the-face Jesus.  How painfully partial

That is the best and most integral commentary on the US presidential election I have come across so far. Thanks so much, Jeff. – John O’neill With less than a month left in the campaign, Trump, knocked back with Covid, stokes his base with new cries about “the Russia hoax”. Meanwhile Joe Biden, up in the polls, goes to Gettysburg to talk about faith in “One America.” In this episode I share my observations on another week in the evolution of American politics.   The post The Autocrat and the Democrat appeared first on The Daily Evolver.

The first debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden is over – and I didn’t start drinking! In this episode, I show how an integral view helps us see the debate for what it is instead of a defective version of “what it should be”. Then I look at some of the issues the candidates addressed, and how together they moved the ball. By the way, I hope you’ll join me for my live show every Wednesday at 1pm US Mountain Time. The Daily Evolver Live is hosted by IntegralLife – and now simulcast to my Facebook page! As always, I

This is the first in a series of articles examining events that may occur in the near future. Events that would define the futures that come after them. I call such moments “cusps” because decisions made during these critical moments effect the subsequent unfolding of the future in profound ways.While the fictional events in this article are by no means certain to occur, I consider them likely enough to make anticipating the implications of each branch at the cusp worth thinking about.The Battle of PottstownRPX news: July 28, 2017 5:25pm EDT Pottstown PennsylvaniaLate this afternoon, gunfire erupted during a pro-Trump rally in