The present we are living through can feel extremely turbulent. For many, “the future” feels far more uncertain than it might have even two years ago. In these situations, we of course want greater foresight. One important way to apply foresight in these situations is to use it to stress test strategy.

Not Predictions for 2026 introduces twelve key mid- to long-term issues shaping the American landscape.

This past Saturday, October 18, hundreds of thousands gathered across the country for the “No Kings” rallies , voicing concerns about concentrated power and the future of democratic governance.  The protests signal ongoing anxieties in the country about politics, legitimacy, and rights.  For organizations, events like these remind us that our policy-making landscape remains in a period of extreme flux with multiplying uncertainties. The conversations sparked by these rallies

Here are four scenarios about the futures of American governance.