The Center Won't Hold Itself

The Center Won't Hold Itself

From Energy Thinks with Tisha Schuller by Tisha Schuller

February 12, 2026 · 18 min

About this episode

Tisha Schuller discusses the importance of a functioning political center and the need for engagement and compromise in leadership.

Planning your 2026 leadership event? Order The Myth and The Moment for your team. ( Reach out for bulk pricing.) What you’ll get in this solo episode of Energy Thinks The political center matters—and it won’t hold itself. Whereas the political extremes reward polarization and populism, sustaining a functioning and productive polity requires … you! The work ahead needs your engagement, curiosity, and willingness to compromise—even when your effort is awkward, incremental, and unappreciated. Whether a strong, pragmatic left emerges to join a vibrant political center matters to you, your company, and what comes next. Why is this work so important? Because the same sort of tension defines the work of the Problem Solvers—governors, regulators, public utilities commissioners, and others caught between climate aspiration and on-the-ground energy reality. As affordability, reliability, and power-system growth collide with climate goals, these leaders are operating under tightening constraints and are accountable when trade-offs can no longer be avoided. You need to give them a path on which to walk forward confidently. You need to ensure there is firm ground in the political center. In…

People in this episode

Host: Tisha Schuller

Topics covered

  • political center
  • leadership
  • engagement
  • compromise
  • climate goals

Keywords

  • political center
  • leadership event
  • engagement
  • climate aspiration
  • energy reality

Mentioned in this episode

Products: The Myth and The Moment

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