The hottest Power Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Faith & Spirituality Topics

We're getting screwed

Situation Normal • 102 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Power
  1. We live in a world where surveillance is everywhere, and our personal information is often sold to others. It's concerning that we willingly carry devices that track us.
  2. Power dynamics are skewed; the powerful often escape accountability while ordinary people have to follow the rules. This creates a sense of injustice in society.
  3. Even if things look bleak, there's hope. We can still take action and make changes. It's important to keep pushing back against the issues we face, just like tending to persistent weeds.

A brief history of creativity (and power)

escape the algorithm • 179 implied HN points • 24 May 23
🎭️ Culture Power
  1. Creativity has a complex history tied to power dynamics, transitioning from divine origins to human control over time.
  2. The concept of creativity evolved alongside the shift in gender roles and power dynamics, affecting societal views on art and innovation.
  3. In modern times, creativity is intertwined with capitalist productivity, leading to value creation and power imbalances in various spheres of society.

Spain's Electoral Results Are a Perfect Illustration of the Pathology of Centralised Rule

THE FREEDOM BLOG • 157 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Power
  1. Spain's recent election results show challenges with centralized rule in forming a stable government with diverse opinions.
  2. Centralized democratic States may lead to policies out of touch with citizens' wishes due to a concentration of power in national parliaments.
  3. Devolved government and finances could reduce political conflict, improve accountability, and better reflect local interests.
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'Twas the Night Before WWIII

Pryor Questions • 485 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Power
  1. 'Twas the night before WWIII, with tension in the air as nations played a high-stakes geopolitical game.
  2. World leaders spoke of peace and goodwill, but their actions hinted at ulterior motives.
  3. The narrative painted a grim picture of a capitalist Santa with dark, profit-driven ambitions.

Mini Posts 5 - Status, Power, and Reason

Messy Progress • 47 implied HN points • 26 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Power
  1. Many people stick to jobs that seem high status but don't bring them happiness. It's better to focus on what makes the world better for everyone instead of just chasing status.
  2. Systems often reward what they claim to be against, like hospitals that don't focus on patient outcomes but on profitability. The real purpose of a system can be seen by what it actually rewards.
  3. Colleges might not only be about teaching but also about creating a ruling class. This can lead to graduates who struggle to adapt to the real world because they are taught to think in ways that don't always match real-life experiences.

The machines will never be our overlords

storyvoyager • 6 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Power
  1. Intelligence is whatever helps people achieve their human goals, so it’s judged by how well it serves human purposes.
  2. Machines won’t become our overlords; power will still be exercised by other humans who use intelligence as a tool.
  3. In today’s society the main human aim is accumulating and preserving material wealth, followed by the desire to enjoy that wealth for as long as possible.

Why big strong men fear tiny feminist gains

Sex and the State • 41 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Power
  1. People tend to focus more on what they lose rather than what they gain. So, when men feel they are losing power, they react strongly, even if women are gaining just a little.
  2. Men generally care more about power and status compared to women. This difference in concern leads to tensions when women gain status that men feel they are losing.
  3. Cultural norms about men being the breadwinners make any perceived loss in status more distressing for men. When things change, men often feel they have more to lose, which contributes to backlash against women's advances.

Letter #17: Coming soon -- Epstein

Charles Eisenstein • 1 implied HN point • 16 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Power
  1. Intense focus on Epstein-related material has led to a recent pause in public writing and videos.
  2. There has been about two weeks of wrestling with the material and a clear intent to help collective sense-making while being careful about what is said.
  3. The situation is viewed as a critical, unusually significant moment for humanity, which explains the cautious and deliberate approach.

Three Types of Elite

Bullfish Hole • 58 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Power
  1. Elites prioritize different dimensions of status like wealth, power, and prestige.
  2. Some individuals have a talent for one dimension of status over the others.
  3. There are distinct differences in the values and characteristics of elites in modern society.

The death of a monarch

The Leftovers • 99 implied HN points • 14 Sep 22
🎭️ Culture Power
  1. Ceremonies and rituals are carefully designed to influence emotions and reinforce power dynamics.
  2. The construction of nations and nationalism relies on various tools like monuments, media, and rituals to maintain power structures.
  3. The death of a monarch highlights how society is manipulated through indoctrination, rituals, and the normalization of power.

The Violent Rules Based Order

Black Lodges • 39 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Power
  1. The concept of bourgeois legality as a facade for ruling class violence is crucial to understanding power dynamics in the 21st century West.
  2. In the face of government crackdowns, it is essential to move beyond illusions of freedom and work towards a strategic response.
  3. Recognizing the true power structures and oppressive nature of the capitalist class is key to offering a meaningful future by acting accordingly.

How Kings Are Made

backstory • 242 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🌍 World Politics Power
  1. The journey explores the culture gap between different tribes in Sudan.
  2. The story highlights the impact of historical events on Sudan, including drought, famine, and communal violence.
  3. The narrative showcases the resilience and triumph of marginalized communities, as seen through the Sudanese Olympic athletes.

Best Posts of 2024

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 45 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Power
  1. The site experienced significant growth in 2024, showing a 250% increase, thanks to support from its followers.
  2. Issues like climate change and the influence of billionaires are critical and concerning topics that need attention in today's world.
  3. The idea of power and control is still relevant, influenced by both government actions and societal dynamics.

Soft Power and Smart Power

Comment is Freed • 103 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Power
  1. Joseph Nye discusses the challenges of balancing academia and government roles, with a focus on time and power.
  2. Power has been a dominant issue in Nye's career, explored through concepts like soft power and interdependence.
  3. Nye and Bob Keohane analyzed how OPEC's non-military influence on global wealth showcased asymmetrical interdependence.

Three questions for Richard Hanania

Gray Mirror • 143 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Power
  1. Richard Hanania reflects on his past beliefs and evolution, acknowledging his mistakes and growth.
  2. The text questions the sincerity of Hanania's views, discussing his goals and potential impact.
  3. The idea of classical liberalism explored in the text is challenged, as well as the effectiveness of proposed reforms and the role of a monarchy.

The Priest in the Arena

Breaking Smart • 165 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Power
  1. The man in the arena archetype involves individuals taking risks and making decisions in challenging situations, with potential for great rewards or losses.
  2. Priests in the arena engage in theocratic capture campaigns, seeking to wield unaccountable authority based on supposed privileged knowledge.
  3. Identifying and stopping theocratic capture involves recognizing the influence of cults that demand unquestioning deference and monopolize conversations and institutions.

Why We March

JoeWrote • 24 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Power
  1. Protests are not solely to change the minds of those in power, but to show the public's readiness for change and revolution.
  2. Protest holds more power than persuasion - it represents a threat with demands that challenge and potentially topple oppressive establishments.
  3. Protests exhibit subordinate power, where the masses can delegitimize rulers by withdrawing consent, potentially impacting elections and political stability.

Good enough

The Strategy Toolkit • 17 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Power
  1. Crime can be seen as the negative of the law and involves strategic decision-making.
  2. Desperation can lead to breaking laws for survival, showcasing a range of strategies to cope.
  3. Studying criminal strategies can provide insights that are applicable to legal and acceptable actions.

Authoritarians and the games they play

Sex and the State • 9 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Power
  1. The terms 'left' and 'right' don't accurately represent contemporary US politics; 'liberal' vs 'authoritarian' is a more relevant ideological spectrum.
  2. The author wants to discuss topics like democracy, demographics, power, and Evangelical Christianity in-depth in the future.
  3. Readers can access more content and a 7-day free trial by subscribing to the author's newsletter 'Sex and the State.'

The Diversity Paradox.

Trying to Understand the World • 8 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Power
  1. The Diversity Paradox signifies a situation where despite increased diversity in organizations, systems at all levels are failing to function effectively. More than just numerical diversity, organizations need to focus on excellence and purpose to thrive.
  2. In today's society, success is often measured by power, money, and formal status, but this focus on external markers can attract the wrong individuals and prioritize image over actual capabilities.
  3. To operate successfully, organizations and individuals should strive to fulfill their true purpose, ensure excellence, and avoid succumbing to a culture of ego-gratification and narcissism that can lead to dysfunction.

The Threat of Back to Normal

Trying to Understand the World • 2 implied HN points • 29 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Power
  1. Global power has always been distributed throughout history with complex patterns of influence.
  2. The perception of a unipolar world dominated by a single power is a recent fiction.
  3. The world is shifting back to a pattern of distributed power, where states cooperate based on shared interests rather than dominance.

Decentralization Alone will not save Social Media

PashaNomics • 0 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Power
  1. Decentralization is important, but it alone may not be enough to solve issues in social media.
  2. Powerful entities may still try to control decentralized social media platforms for their own interests.
  3. Censorship of anti-establishment voices can still be a challenge even with decentralization.

The Case for American Power Unedited Review

Theory Matters • 0 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Power
  1. The book argues for the importance of American power in today's world, even though many find it a hard case to make. It suggests that America still plays a crucial role in global politics despite challenges.
  2. Hamid believes that democracy is essential for a better world order and sees America's universal values as a force for good. He draws connections between democracy and political authority.
  3. The review recommends reading Hamid's earlier work, 'The Problem of Democracy,' to understand the foundations of his arguments. It highlights how he uses a mix of different methods to support his claims.

Do you believe in society’s lies?

Numb at the Lodge • 0 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Power
  1. Large social myths—like Santa—are actively manufactured and maintained by institutions such as the media, schools, corporations, and government, and people fiercely defend those comforting deceptions when they are exposed.
  2. Realizing society tells comforting lies is a common step toward political maturity, but many claims of hidden truth are either obvious or false, which makes genuine skepticism messy and unreliable.
  3. Some deceptions are truly dangerous and point to hidden networks and rituals that shape politics and violence beyond standard economic explanations, and ethnography suggests many societies are organized through performance and collective falsehoods with children often central to those myths.

Notes On Epstein

The Weekly Dish • 0 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Power
  1. A segment of the American elite is deeply self-dealing and self-obsessed, operating with little regard for moral norms.
  2. Jeffrey Epstein’s social circle included powerful figures, showing how predators can be normalized and shielded by elite networks.
  3. This points to a broader problem of moral rot and impunity among the wealthy and influential, not just isolated bad actors.

The Gravity of Immortality: Exploring the Human Drive for Power and Transcendence

Based Meditations • 0 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Power
  1. Humans are driven by the fear of death and the desire for power and control, seeking to conquer mortality and transcend their limits.
  2. Consciousness drives humans to envision a future beyond their current state, leading to technological advancements and societal contributions.
  3. In the grand scheme of influence and power dynamics, humans seem to follow a natural order of gravitational forces, seeking immortality through contributions to society and future generations.

The paradox of faith in the Science

(hector egbert) • 0 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Power
  1. The public is often demanded to trust in science to solve global crises.
  2. There is a distinction between regular science and the weaponized use of Science by governing bodies.
  3. Trust is questioned when the motivations behind Science are seen as selfish and driven by power imbalances.

Becoming vaster than ideology

Meaningness • 0 implied HN points • 12 Dec 21
📖 Philosophy Power
  1. The post discusses moving past narrow ideologies to develop more accurate and powerful relationships with various belief systems.
  2. It mentions the concept of being vaster than ideology and how it can help in stopping blind allegiance to religions, scientism, political ideologies, and psychological theories.
  3. By becoming vaster than ideology, individuals can work towards cultivating healthier and more nuanced perspectives on ideologies.

Enjoy the Power of Music

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 17 May 20
🎶 Music Power
  1. Relax and enjoy some time outside to lift your spirits and bring happiness.
  2. Upgrade your dining experience with music to create a calming atmosphere.
  3. Find joy in small moments, like capturing a pop of floral color in a photo to share with others.

Shrewd Monk, Stubborn Emperor (Part IV)

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
💾 History Power
  1. Gregory VII's ex-communication of Heinrich IV and the Italian archbishops weakened the ecclesiastical support for the German monarch in northern Italy during the Investiture Controversy.
  2. Heinrich IV strategically sought redemption from Gregory VII's ex-communication, leveraging the pope's priestly obligation to allow him to seek forgiveness and restore his power within the Church and kingdom.
  3. The Investiture Controversy between Gregory VII and the German emperors ended with no clear resolution on who was supreme, showing the failure of medieval theocracy and highlighting the complexity of political and religious power struggles.