The Ledger, Vol. 1
Popes, Prime Time, and Political Games
July 10th, 2025
A few short essays you might’ve missed ~ from Vatican intrigue to corporate rebrands and Supreme Court drama.
Welcome to the first edition of The Ledger, a monthly roundup of recent essays from The Balance Sheet.
Over the past few months, I’ve been writing about everything from geopolitics and pop culture to church history and corporate branding ~ not because there’s a grand plan, but because I’m a curious guy.
Writing these essays has been a lot of fun ~
and often quite surprising.
One day I’m deep-diving into the gold standard, and the next I’m unpacking The Simpsons.
Each essay is a small attempt to understand how the world actually works ~ and where we all fit into it.
If you’ve read any of these already:
Thank you!
If not, here’s a quick guide to what you might’ve missed.
8 Big Questions Everyone Has About Pope Leo XIV
The first American pope has arrived ~ and the world wants to know.
This short piece answers the most common questions about Pope Leo XIV, from AI ethics to church tradition.
35 Years of Yellow: The Simpsons Time Loop
How does a cartoon become a prophecy machine?
This essay looks at The Simpsons: A cultural time capsule, prediction engine, and accidental philosopher-king.
McDonald’s Faces a Week-Long Boycott
What happens when french fries meet foreign policy?
A short explainer on the sudden McDonald’s boycott and what it says about consumer protest in 2025.
The Max Mistake: Why HBO’s Name Change Backfired
HBO Max became Max. Then everyone was confused.
This pop business essay breaks down how a top-tier brand stumbled by forgetting its name meant something.
2025 Supreme Court Wrap-Up
A lightning-fast summary of where the highest court landed this term ~ and what’s at stake heading into 2026.
A clean recap for anyone who doesn’t want to wade through 500 pages of legalese.
David Attenborough: How One Quiet Voice Made the Whole World Listen
A short biography of the man behind Planet Earth and Blue Planet.
What his voice ~ both literal and metaphorical ~ has meant for conservation, storytelling, and science.
Sleeper Hit
Why a Return to the Gold Standard Would Break the Economy
An 8-minute breakdown of a nostalgic idea that won’t die.
Why the gold standard absolutely should not come back.
Thanks for reading.
Whether you’ve been following since the beginning or if you just landed here, I appreciate your time ~
and I hope one or two of these pieces spark something for you.
~ L P