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Today’s post is sponsored by StreamYard.
This week’s headlines were as heavy as the air during a Midwest heat wave. Literally — Cleveland was hit with a power outage, one of many tied to extreme summer heat straining the grid. But while some of us were sweating over spoiled groceries, the rest of the world was sweating something bigger: news that the U.S. had launched strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.
The immediate question: what happens next?
From potential military retaliation to sophisticated cyberattacks and lone-wolf acts, the range of possible responses is unnerving. America’s increasingly digital infrastructure is more exposed than many want to admit. As bombs fall abroad, could malware bring down hospitals or power grids at home?
Closer to home, we also discussed a tanker truck crash in Columbus — another reminder that safety can be fragile and that not every disaster comes with warning sirens or international headlines.
But amid the crisis chatter, a bold thought experiment emerged: what if America picked its president the way the Catholic Church picks the Pope?
Imagine it — 100 respected leaders from across political, civic, and professional sectors are sequestered away in a private, secure location. They debate, negotiate, and vote until a consensus candidate emerges: not the loudest, richest, or most extreme, but someone capable of leading a fractured nation.
Could such a “governmental conclave” work?
It’s an idea with more depth than you might think. On one hand, it removes the circus of modern campaigning. It discourages the dominance of personality and favors qualities like diplomacy, trust, and coalition-building. On the other, it challenges deeply ingrained ideas about public choice and democratic transparency.
We floated the idea of wild card candidates — people who might never survive a traditional campaign but would shine in a room of thoughtful peers. Think governors with track records of compromise, nonprofit CEOs, retired military leaders, maybe even tech thinkers or bipartisan diplomats.
There are obvious challenges: Who selects the 100? How do you ensure diversity? Could Americans trust a system so far removed from the ballot box?
Still, in a moment when the electoral system feels more broken than ever, the conclave model offers one thing few ideas do: a spark of curiosity. What if we started imagining new ways forward instead of doubling down on what’s failing?
The power went out in Cleveland this week. Maybe it’s time to reset the system elsewhere, too.
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