Rutger Bregman
@rutgerbregman.com
Historian | Author of ‘Utopia for Realists’ (2014), ‘Humankind’ (2020) and ‘Moral Ambition’ (2025) | Co-founder of The School for Moral Ambition | moralambition.org | rutgerbregman.com
This is a role for someone who believes career culture *can* change—
and wants to help lead the change.
If that excites you (and maybe scares you a little too) …
We’d love to hear from you.
and wants to help lead the change.
If that excites you (and maybe scares you a little too) …
We’d love to hear from you.
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
This is a role for someone who believes career culture *can* change—
and wants to help lead the change.
If that excites you (and maybe scares you a little too) …
We’d love to hear from you.
and wants to help lead the change.
If that excites you (and maybe scares you a little too) …
We’d love to hear from you.
You will design and run the entire program, crafting the curriculum, curating mentors, securing internships, managing logistics, and bringing in bold speakers.
You’ll be the Gandalf of the Fellowship: wise, kind, and fiercely committed to helping students live out their ideals.
You’ll be the Gandalf of the Fellowship: wise, kind, and fiercely committed to helping students live out their ideals.
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
You will design and run the entire program, crafting the curriculum, curating mentors, securing internships, managing logistics, and bringing in bold speakers.
You’ll be the Gandalf of the Fellowship: wise, kind, and fiercely committed to helping students live out their ideals.
You’ll be the Gandalf of the Fellowship: wise, kind, and fiercely committed to helping students live out their ideals.
We’re launching the Harvard Moral Ambition Fellowship.
Twelve students. One life-changing experience. And we’re hiring a Program Manager to lead it.
Twelve students. One life-changing experience. And we’re hiring a Program Manager to lead it.
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
We’re launching the Harvard Moral Ambition Fellowship.
Twelve students. One life-changing experience. And we’re hiring a Program Manager to lead it.
Twelve students. One life-changing experience. And we’re hiring a Program Manager to lead it.
Over the past two years, we’ve run fellowships, campaigns, and events that have helped thousands rethink what success really means.
Now, we’re bringing that mission to one of the most prestigious universities in the world: Harvard.
Now, we’re bringing that mission to one of the most prestigious universities in the world: Harvard.
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Over the past two years, we’ve run fellowships, campaigns, and events that have helped thousands rethink what success really means.
Now, we’re bringing that mission to one of the most prestigious universities in the world: Harvard.
Now, we’re bringing that mission to one of the most prestigious universities in the world: Harvard.
(In Europe we started with fighting Big Tobacco and accelerating the transition towards sustainable proteins, we're also building a Food Fellowship in the US + a global Tax Fairness Fellowship - see moralambition.org)
The School for Moral Ambition
Moral ambition redefines success: not by what we accumulate, but by what we contribute. Build a legacy that truly matters. Join the movement.
moralambition.org
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
(In Europe we started with fighting Big Tobacco and accelerating the transition towards sustainable proteins, we're also building a Food Fellowship in the US + a global Tax Fairness Fellowship - see moralambition.org)
At the organization I co-founded, the School for Moral Ambition, we’re out to change that. We help talented people redirect their ambition toward the greatest challenges of our time.
That's why we like to think of ourselves as The Robin Hoods of Talent 😉
That's why we like to think of ourselves as The Robin Hoods of Talent 😉
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
At the organization I co-founded, the School for Moral Ambition, we’re out to change that. We help talented people redirect their ambition toward the greatest challenges of our time.
That's why we like to think of ourselves as The Robin Hoods of Talent 😉
That's why we like to think of ourselves as The Robin Hoods of Talent 😉
My friend @S_VanTeutem calls it 'The Bermuda Triangle of Talent': consultancy, finance & corporate law.
A black hole that sucks in so many of our “best and brightest.”
A black hole that sucks in so many of our “best and brightest.”
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
My friend @S_VanTeutem calls it 'The Bermuda Triangle of Talent': consultancy, finance & corporate law.
A black hole that sucks in so many of our “best and brightest.”
A black hole that sucks in so many of our “best and brightest.”
Take a place like Harvard. Every year, thousands of teenagers apply with essays about ending poverty or saving the planet.
Fast forward a few years… and nearly half go to McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, or Kirkland & Ellis.
Fast forward a few years… and nearly half go to McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, or Kirkland & Ellis.
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Take a place like Harvard. Every year, thousands of teenagers apply with essays about ending poverty or saving the planet.
Fast forward a few years… and nearly half go to McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, or Kirkland & Ellis.
Fast forward a few years… and nearly half go to McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, or Kirkland & Ellis.
Millions of talented people end up in careers that don’t make the world better. Some even make it worse.
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Millions of talented people end up in careers that don’t make the world better. Some even make it worse.
Millions of talented people end up in careers that don’t make the world better. Some even make it worse.
July 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Millions of talented people end up in careers that don’t make the world better. Some even make it worse.
And just to note: this is the official death toll, which most experts consider a significant underestimate. The actual number is likely much higher — see, for example, this recent study: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
We're probably talking about 4,000+ 9/11s for Palestinians
We're probably talking about 4,000+ 9/11s for Palestinians
First independent survey of deaths in Gaza reports more than 80,000 fatalities
Results align with other efforts to count the number of people killed amid the ongoing conflict.
nature.com
July 12, 2025 at 12:09 AM
And just to note: this is the official death toll, which most experts consider a significant underestimate. The actual number is likely much higher — see, for example, this recent study: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
We're probably talking about 4,000+ 9/11s for Palestinians
We're probably talking about 4,000+ 9/11s for Palestinians
If this all sounds too alarmist, good. That means it’s not too late, Smits concludes.
Fascism doesn’t look like it did in the 1930s. It looks like now.
Again; read the full piece here: decorrespondent.nl/16177/this-...
Fascism doesn’t look like it did in the 1930s. It looks like now.
Again; read the full piece here: decorrespondent.nl/16177/this-...
This is fascism
Fascism starts with talk, not tanks. With democratic elections, not a coup. And it takes hold thanks to people who think things won’t move quickly—until they do just that.
decorrespondent.nl
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
If this all sounds too alarmist, good. That means it’s not too late, Smits concludes.
Fascism doesn’t look like it did in the 1930s. It looks like now.
Again; read the full piece here: decorrespondent.nl/16177/this-...
Fascism doesn’t look like it did in the 1930s. It looks like now.
Again; read the full piece here: decorrespondent.nl/16177/this-...
So what do we do? For one, we stop treating fascists like ordinary politicians. We stop waiting for the “real” crisis.
The crisis is here, fascism is here.
The crisis is here, fascism is here.
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
So what do we do? For one, we stop treating fascists like ordinary politicians. We stop waiting for the “real” crisis.
The crisis is here, fascism is here.
The crisis is here, fascism is here.
What happens next?
Historian Robert Paxton warns that fascist regimes do not necessarily settle into stable autocracy. They can spiral. They can radicalize. They can consume themselves, but only after they’ve consumed everything else.
Historian Robert Paxton warns that fascist regimes do not necessarily settle into stable autocracy. They can spiral. They can radicalize. They can consume themselves, but only after they’ve consumed everything else.
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
What happens next?
Historian Robert Paxton warns that fascist regimes do not necessarily settle into stable autocracy. They can spiral. They can radicalize. They can consume themselves, but only after they’ve consumed everything else.
Historian Robert Paxton warns that fascist regimes do not necessarily settle into stable autocracy. They can spiral. They can radicalize. They can consume themselves, but only after they’ve consumed everything else.
Trump governs by executive order, he defies court rulings, he hints at an unconstitutional third term. His new campaign merch says: Trump 2028.
This is a stress test of American democracy—and the institutions are breaking.
This is a stress test of American democracy—and the institutions are breaking.
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Trump governs by executive order, he defies court rulings, he hints at an unconstitutional third term. His new campaign merch says: Trump 2028.
This is a stress test of American democracy—and the institutions are breaking.
This is a stress test of American democracy—and the institutions are breaking.
Now, what's crucial to remember is that it's not just Trump.
Fascism always relies on collaboration:
Republicans could have expelled him. They didn’t.
Congress could have barred him. It didn’t.
Fascism always relies on collaboration:
Republicans could have expelled him. They didn’t.
Congress could have barred him. It didn’t.
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Now, what's crucial to remember is that it's not just Trump.
Fascism always relies on collaboration:
Republicans could have expelled him. They didn’t.
Congress could have barred him. It didn’t.
Fascism always relies on collaboration:
Republicans could have expelled him. They didn’t.
Congress could have barred him. It didn’t.
10) Fascists turn the state into a weapon. The Trump administartion has sanctioned law firms, arrested judges, and sent immigrants to off-the-books prisons.
“He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” Trump posted.
“He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” Trump posted.
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
10) Fascists turn the state into a weapon. The Trump administartion has sanctioned law firms, arrested judges, and sent immigrants to off-the-books prisons.
“He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” Trump posted.
“He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” Trump posted.
9) Fascism pits rural against urban. Cities symbolize degeneracy, while rural life stands for tradition, purity, strength. Trump has for years railed against cities as hotbeds for crime and moral decay.
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
9) Fascism pits rural against urban. Cities symbolize degeneracy, while rural life stands for tradition, purity, strength. Trump has for years railed against cities as hotbeds for crime and moral decay.
8) Fascism always elevates “hardworking citizens” over so-called freeloaders. Trump valorizes miners and soldiers. He fires 121,000 civil servants. He mocks disability and cuts aid.
(Behind the rhetoric, the economic structure doesn’t change. Hence the massive tax cuts for the rich.)
(Behind the rhetoric, the economic structure doesn’t change. Hence the massive tax cuts for the rich.)
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
8) Fascism always elevates “hardworking citizens” over so-called freeloaders. Trump valorizes miners and soldiers. He fires 121,000 civil servants. He mocks disability and cuts aid.
(Behind the rhetoric, the economic structure doesn’t change. Hence the massive tax cuts for the rich.)
(Behind the rhetoric, the economic structure doesn’t change. Hence the massive tax cuts for the rich.)
7) In fascist ideology, gender roles are rigid: men lead and women reproduce. Trump echoes this tradition: attacking gender studies, banning words like “equality,” offering medals to women with more 'American' children.
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
7) In fascist ideology, gender roles are rigid: men lead and women reproduce. Trump echoes this tradition: attacking gender studies, banning words like “equality,” offering medals to women with more 'American' children.
6) Fascism casts the dominant group as the true victim. Trump insists the system is rigged—against him, against his followers, against “real” Americans.
June 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
6) Fascism casts the dominant group as the true victim. Trump insists the system is rigged—against him, against his followers, against “real” Americans.