Essays

Essays

Authority, markets, trust.

Authority, markets, trust.

Diella as presented on the Albanian government’s official cabinet website. Screenshot captured September 1, 2026. © Government of Albania; reproduced for commentary.

Essay

Sep 1, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Minister in the Machine

AI doesn’t need a mind to exercise authority. It needs an institution to grant it power—and accept responsibility for the result.

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Diella as presented on the Albanian government’s official cabinet website. Screenshot captured September 1, 2026. © Government of Albania; reproduced for commentary.

Essay

Sep 1, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

The Minister in the Machine

AI doesn’t need a mind to exercise authority. It needs an institution to grant it power—and accept responsibility for the result.

Read More

Essay

Aug 25, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Research Firm That Wasn’t

It took an entire newspaper campaign to put bat people on the moon. One guy with AI put fake polls into politics.

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Essay

Aug 25, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

The Research Firm That Wasn’t

It took an entire newspaper campaign to put bat people on the moon. One guy with AI put fake polls into politics.

Read More

Essay

Aug 18, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Authority Is Your Competitive Advantage

You don’t need more content. You need a point of view the market can use.

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Essay

Aug 18, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

Authority Is Your Competitive Advantage

You don’t need more content. You need a point of view the market can use.

Read More

Recovered debris from Space Shuttle Columbia, arranged for reconstruction and failure analysis at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: NASA.

Essay

Aug 11, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Past Needs an Editor

Organizations must decide what to remember—and what to leave behind.

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Recovered debris from Space Shuttle Columbia, arranged for reconstruction and failure analysis at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: NASA.

Essay

Aug 11, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

The Past Needs an Editor

Organizations must decide what to remember—and what to leave behind.

Read More

Essay

Aug 4, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

How Arguments Earn Trust

Inside the hidden infrastructure of authority.

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Essay

Aug 4, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

How Arguments Earn Trust

Inside the hidden infrastructure of authority.

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Essay

Jul 29, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Machine Has Your Badge

AI agents act with delegated authority. Companies own the consequences.

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Essay

Jul 29, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

The Machine Has Your Badge

AI agents act with delegated authority. Companies own the consequences.

Read More

Essay

Jul 23, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Return of the Author

AI scales fluency. Authors supply accountable judgment.

Read More

Essay

Jul 23, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

The Return of the Author

AI scales fluency. Authors supply accountable judgment.

Read More

Essay

Jul 14, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Rider and the Team

When individuals carry the authority, how does the organization capture its value?

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Essay

Jul 14, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

The Rider and the Team

When individuals carry the authority, how does the organization capture its value?

Read More

Essay

Jul 8, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Judgment Stack

The new scarce resource is knowing what matters

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Essay

Jul 8, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

The Judgment Stack

The new scarce resource is knowing what matters

Read More

Essay

Jul 1, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Valuation Follows the Frame

Before markets decide what a company is worth, they decide what kind of company it is.

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Essay

Jul 1, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

Valuation Follows the Frame

Before markets decide what a company is worth, they decide what kind of company it is.

Read More

Essay

Jun 23, 2026

Richard M Murphy

Markets Don't Read Minds

How ideas travel across customers, categories, and cultures.

Read More

Essay

Jun 23, 2026

Richard M Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

Markets Don't Read Minds

How ideas travel across customers, categories, and cultures.

Read More

Essay

Jun 16, 2026

Richard M Murphy

Proof Beats Positioning

The internet can fake a Bob Dylan puppy rescue. Markets still need evidence.

Read More

Essay

Jun 16, 2026

Richard M Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

Proof Beats Positioning

The internet can fake a Bob Dylan puppy rescue. Markets still need evidence.

Read More

Essay

Jun 9, 2026

Richard M Murphy

The Problem With Sounding Smart

When everyone sounds like an expert, markets need new ways to decide who to trust.

Read More

Essay

Jun 9, 2026

Richard M Murphy

Understanding Payroll Taxes in 2025: What Every Employer Should Know

The Problem With Sounding Smart

When everyone sounds like an expert, markets need new ways to decide who to trust.

Read More

Diella as presented on the Albanian government’s official cabinet website. Screenshot captured September 1, 2026. © Government of Albania; reproduced for commentary.

Essay

Sep 1, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Minister in the Machine

AI doesn’t need a mind to exercise authority. It needs an institution to grant it power—and accept responsibility for the result.

Essay

Aug 25, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Research Firm That Wasn’t

It took an entire newspaper campaign to put bat people on the moon. One guy with AI put fake polls into politics.

Essay

Aug 18, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Authority Is Your Competitive Advantage

You don’t need more content. You need a point of view the market can use.

Recovered debris from Space Shuttle Columbia, arranged for reconstruction and failure analysis at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: NASA.

Essay

Aug 11, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Past Needs an Editor

Organizations must decide what to remember—and what to leave behind.

Essay

Aug 4, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

How Arguments Earn Trust

Inside the hidden infrastructure of authority.

Essay

Jul 29, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Machine Has Your Badge

AI agents act with delegated authority. Companies own the consequences.

Essay

Jul 23, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Return of the Author

AI scales fluency. Authors supply accountable judgment.

Essay

Jul 14, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Rider and the Team

When individuals carry the authority, how does the organization capture its value?

Essay

Jul 8, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

The Judgment Stack

The new scarce resource is knowing what matters

Essay

Jul 1, 2026

Richard M. Murphy

Valuation Follows the Frame

Before markets decide what a company is worth, they decide what kind of company it is.

Essay

Jun 23, 2026

Richard M Murphy

Markets Don't Read Minds

How ideas travel across customers, categories, and cultures.

Essay

Jun 16, 2026

Richard M Murphy

Proof Beats Positioning

The internet can fake a Bob Dylan puppy rescue. Markets still need evidence.

Essay

Jun 9, 2026

Richard M Murphy

The Problem With Sounding Smart

When everyone sounds like an expert, markets need new ways to decide who to trust.